Centre Issues Urgent Advisory to States Following First Case of New Covid Variant

New Delhi: In response to the detection of the new coronavirus sub-variant JN.1 in Kerala, the Centre has issued a crucial advisory to all states. The first case of JN.1 was identified in a 79-year-old woman from Thiruvananthapuram, and another case was reported in a traveller from Tamil Nadu’s Tiruchirapalli district in Singapore.

Anticipating the festive season, the advisory emphasizes the importance of implementing public health measures to minimize the risk of disease transmission. States are directed to regularly monitor and report influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory illness cases at the district level. It also highlights the necessity of updating information on the Integrated Health Information Platform and ensuring widespread testing in all districts.

The JN.1 variant, a descendant of the Omicron sub-variant BA.2.86 or Pirola, was first identified in the United States in September 2023. China reported seven infections of this sub-variant on December 15. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), BA.2.86 carries 20 mutations on the spike protein, raising concerns due to the spike protein’s role in viral attachment to host cells.

Symptoms of the JN.1 sub-variant include mild fever, cough, nasal discomfort, sore throat, runny nose, facial pain or pressure, headache, and gastrointestinal issues. Experts note the heightened transmissibility of JN.1, making it a dominant strain of COVID-19, emphasizing the urgency of preventive measures.