JN.1 Covid Variant: 5 Things You Should Know About New Cases; Is India Next? Explained

News18

20-05-2025

Last Updated:
New Covid Cases Today: With massive population & waning immunity, India needs to cautious before viral resurgence takes place. India may need to reassess its vaccination strategy
JN.1 Variant Covid Cases Today: A fresh surge in Covid cases is seen across Asia, including Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand, and health experts are sounding the alarm for Indians to take precautions.
With massive population and waning immunity, India should be extra cautious before another viral resurgence takes place.
Currently, India has logged 257 active Covid cases from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Officials have urged people to maintain calm as everything is 'under control".
Here are the five things you should know about the fresh Covid cases.
JN.1 Variant: Most of the cases found in Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand are spreading due to the Omicron variant JN.1 and its related descendants. The JN.1 strain, first found in August 2023 and designated by the World Health Organisation as a 'variant of' interest' with around 30 mutations, is causing the new wave. This variant contains roughly 30 mutations intended to evade immunity, more than any other variant available at the time. However, BA.2.86 did not emerge as the dominant strain among the SARS-CoV-2 variants that were circulating in the late summer and early fall of 2023.
Transmissibility & Severity: According to Johns Hopkins University, the JN.1 has evolved the ability to transmit more efficiently by one or two additional mutations. While it retains the immune evasion features of its parent, the JN.1 has now mutated to spread more effectively. Yale Medicine says the JN.1 strain is a close relative of BA.2.86 (informally referred to as 'Pirola'), a lineage of the Omicron variant. 'A difference between BA.2.86 and JN.1 is that the latter has one mutation in its spike protein, a single change that may or may not alter any of the traits that characterise the virus, although preliminary research shows that it may provide extra immune evasion," it added.
Covid Wave In Asia: More than 14,000 Covid cases were reported in Singapore early May, with daily hospitalisations rising by around 30%. The dominant variants are 'LF.7' and 'NB.1.8', both part of the JN.1 family. In Thailand, Covid cases jumped after the Songkran festival in April. The country reported two major cluster outbreaks, but officials have not yet imposed any movement curbs. Hong Kong has reported 81 infections and 30 deaths, mostly among older adults. Meanwhile, cases have doubled in recent weeks in China and are approaching last summer's peak levels, as per China's Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. Though the Indian government has not issued any formal advisory or ban from the affected countries, travellers should evaluate their own health risks and monitor updates before deciding.
Is India Next? Health experts clarify that JN.1 is already present in India. But the subvariants detected here may differ slightly from those in countries like Hong Kong and China. While JN.1 may not cause serious illness in most cases, its high transmissibility means that if it begins to spread widely, it could lead to a sharp increase in cases, which could put additional pressure on healthcare systems in India. Indian experts stress that testing and, more importantly, genomic surveillance are critical to identify which variants are currently circulating. Thus, experts warn that India may need to reassess its vaccination strategy, particularly booster shots among high-risk groups. Doctors stress that health measures such as masking, hand hygiene and physical distancing should be followed.
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