The World Health Organization has sounded the alarm about yet another descendant of the Omicron respiratory family. This new variant, JN.1, has been identified as low risk now, but winter is more of a concern.
The World Health Organization classifies the JN.1 variant of COVID-19 as a separate variant of interest from the BA.2.86 parent lineage. This comes after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that 20 percent of new COVID-19 infections are of this variant, making it the fastest-growing variant in the United States.
Although no precautions are required at the time, this could cause problems.
“Based on available evidence, the additional global risk to public health posed by JN.1 is currently assessed as low,” the WHO said. “However, with the onset of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, JN.1 could increase the burden of respiratory infections in many countries.
“Current vaccines continue to protect against severe illness and death from JN.1 and other circulating variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. WHO is continuously monitoring the evidence and will update the JN.1 risk assessment as needed.”
Stay well: NJ seeing an increase in respiratory illnesses. The CDC warns to be careful on holiday travel.
Although there are no official recommendations, with the holidays approaching, we encourage you to wash your hands thoroughly, cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze, and if you feel sick, stay home.
It's not just affecting the United States.
According to the WHO, the variant is of concern in Europe, Australia, Asia and Canada.
In America, the new variant is of particular concern in the Northeast, where about 30 percent of COVID-19 cases are JN.1.
