JN.1 Covid variant more transmissible but not causing severe infections
The new coronavirus sub-variant, JN.1, is more transmissible and is spreading rapidly but is not causing severe infections, said former AIIMS director Randeep Guleria on Saturday.
He also said that the new Covid variant is becoming more dominant. ” It is more transmissible, it is spreading more rapidly, it is gradually becoming a dominant variant as far as Covid-19 is concerned, in the US, Europe, and we are seeing more cases in India as well,” the senior pulmonologist told news agency ANI.
However, he also said that the data suggests that the new variant is not causing severe infections and hospitalisation.
SYMPTOMS AND PREVENTION
Talking about ways to remain healthy and prevent catching the new sub-variant, Dr Guleria urged people to indulge in Covid-appropriate behaviour.
“Wash your hands regularly. Cough into your armpit or into a tissue so you can avoid spreading the infection to others. Avoid going to crowded places, especially if you have a fever, cough and cold,” the health expert said.
He also asked people with comorbidities like diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, and those in the older age group, to wear face masks when out in public.
Talking about the symptoms, Guleria said, “Most of the symptoms are predominantly of the upper airways like fever, cough, cold, sore throat, running nose and body aches.”
NEW COVID VARIANT IN INDIA
JN.1, a descendant of the Omicron lineage and has been classified as a ‘variant of interest’ by the World Health Organization, has become one of the fastest-spreading viruses in the last few weeks.
In India, the first case of JN.1, which is a lineage of Omicron, was found in a 79-year-old woman in Kerala.
As many as 22 cases of the Coronavirus sub-variant JN.1 were reported across the country until December 21, as per central government sources.
Out of the 22 JN1 cases, 19 have been traced in Goa and one each in Kerala and Maharashtra. Details of one case is yet to be revealed by the authorities.