Tension increased due to detection of sub-variant JN.1 of Covid in Kerala, health department alerted; Mock drill ordered in hospitals

Covid sub-variant JN.1 has been found in some parts of Kerala, after which concerns about it have increased slightly. Last Saturday, a new sub-variant of Covid was found in a 79-year-old woman in Kerala, after which the health department has been alerted.

The India SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), tasked with sequencing and tracking new dangerous Covid-19 variants, has investigated the parts of Kerala where JN.1 has been found

Speaking to news agency ANI, INSACOG chief N.K. "This variant has been isolated and reported in November. It is a subvariant of BA.2.86. We have some cases of JN.1," Arora said. "India is monitoring and that is why no hospitalization or serious illness has been reported so far," he said.

It is known that JN.1 was first detected in the United States in September 2023. According to Rajeev Jayadevan, co-chairman of the National Indian Medical Association Covid Task Force, "After a gap of seven months, cases are rising in India. In Kerala, there are reports of people having Covid, but no serious condition at present. It is visible."

He said, "Genome sequencing would have revealed which type of virus is spreading in which area. For example, in India, during the April 2023 wave, the XBB sublineage was found to be the main cause of infection. However, the December genome sequencing results "Are still coming and initial investigation shows that JN.1 case has been found in Kerala."

Jayadevan said the JN.1 variant is capable of spreading rapidly and evading immunity. He said, "JN.1 is a severely immunocompromised and rapidly spreading variant. Its impact will be immediate on those who have already become victims of Covid and those who have been vaccinated. JN.1 is growing rapidly in many Western countries."