The World Health Organization named COVID variant JN.1 a variant of interest on Tuesday because of its "rapidly increasing spread" but noted that the additional public health risk remains low.
JN.1 has been rapidly gaining ground in 41 countries. JN.1 is expected to become the leading coronavirus variant around the world in a matter of weeks.
JN.1 strain can evade the immune system and transmit more easily than other currently circulating variants, it has not shown any signs of more severe disease. While there might be more cases with the variant, JN.1 doesn't pose a greater risk.
Omicron and Its Subvariants
Currently, the dominant variant in the United States is HV.1, with 29.6% of cases, followed by JN.1, with 21.4% of cases, and EG.5, with 8.8% of cases. The original omicron variant is gone now. Currently subvariants of omicron are circulating, including EG.5, XBB.1.16.6, and XBB.1.16.11.
JN.1 was previously classified a variant of interest as part of its parent lineage BA.2.86, but WHO has now classified it as a separate variant of interest.
According to the WHO, Pirola and its variants accounted for 17 percent of the Sars-CoV-2 sequences uploaded to the global database Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID). By the beginning of December, more than half of these sequences were that of JN.1.
SARS-CoV-2 emergent variants are characterized by increased viral fitness and each shows multiple mutations predominantly localized to the spike protein. JN.1 and BA.2.86 are very similar but differ in spike protein. The spike (which lays on the virus's surface) is what causes the virus to infect people. For this reason, the spike is what vaccines will target, vaccines will work in the same way to target both variants – just as updated vaccines was an effective treatment for BA.2.86.
Where Has JN.1 Been Detected?
The new JN.1 variant has been detected in 41 countries as of December 16. Among those reporting the largest rates of JN.1 cases are France, the U.S., Singapore, Canada, the U.K., and Sweden. There has been “a rapid increase of JN.1 reported.” In October, JN.1 comprised about 3.3% of COVID cases sequenced. That rate has since grown to more than 27%.
The coronavirus subvariant JN.1 is now the "fastest-growing" variant in the US. Current projections estimate 21% of COVID cases are now caused by JN.1. That’s less than another omicron subvariant, HV.1, which is believed to be the dominant strain in the U.S. this month at 30% of sequenced cases. JN.1 is most prevalent in the Northeast U.S., causing about one-third of newly sequenced COVID cases as of early December. In the central U.S. — Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, and Missouri — about 26% of cases are believed to be JN.1 related. There are no variant estimates for the Northwest, the South, or much of the East Coast.
Symptoms of JN.1
There is no evidence that JN.1 causes more serious illness or has significantly different symptoms than other circulating variants. Some may easily mistake symptoms of a mild case with other common wintertime illnesses, such as the flu, cold or respiratory infection.
Symptoms of a JN.1 COVID-19 infection may include cough, sore throat, headache, muscles aches, fever, change in or loss of taste or smell, congestion and runny nose, fatigue, brain fog (feeling less wakeful and aware), shortness of breath, and gastrointestinal symptoms (upset stomach, mild diarrhea).
As always, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing are signs of a more serious infection and should be treated by a medical professional as soon as possible. The type and severity of symptoms depend more on each person's immunity and health history rather than which variant they catch.
Should We be Worried?
Many will remember the Covid spikes that have accompanied recent Christmases. Although virus levels are decreasing, scientists are predicting this trend will reverse as we start to socialize more, with indoor gatherings.
We're going to see a fairly large rise in cases this winter. Not because JN.1 is more problematic, infectious, or severe, but because we're losing our defenses – protections afforded by our last set of boosters and our immunity is waning.
People have become complacent about Covid, despite lots of people having it at the moment. There are lots of other germs around as well – flu is circulating, and other colds. If you have symptoms, you should test for Covid, so you know how best to protect those around you.
Prevention Tips
The best way to prevent new variants is to slow the spread of the virus. While JN.1 may be able to evade immunity, current COVID vaccines “continue to protect against severe disease and death” from the circulating variants.
We encourage basic health and hygiene practices, like handwashing, to prevent the spread of COVID and other viruses. Stay home if you believe you have COVID or have tested positive. If you are gathering inside for the holidays, open a window, use fans to improve air flow, and change filters on the air conditioning system.
The latest COVID-19 vaccine and treatments are expected to work against JN.1 despite its mutated form.
We encourage basic health and hygiene practices, like handwashing, to prevent the spread of COVID and other viruses. Stay home if you believe you have COVID or have tested positive. If you are gathering inside for the holidays, open a window, use fans to improve air flow, and change filters on the air conditioning system.
The latest COVID-19 vaccine and treatments are expected to work against JN.1 despite its mutated form.
We encourage basic health and hygiene practices, like handwashing, to prevent the spread of COVID and other viruses. Stay home if you believe you have COVID or have tested positive. If you are gathering inside for the holidays, open a window, use fans to improve air flow, and change filters on the air conditioning system.
The latest COVID-19 vaccine and treatments are expected to work against JN.1 despite its mutated form.
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