JN.1 Coronavirus Strain: 21 Cases in Total Across India; WHO Calls it 'Variant of Interest'
The Wire Staff
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New Delhi: The World Health Organization has classified the JN.1 coronavirus strain as a "variant of interest".
On Tuesday, December 19, it said that current evidence had it that the JN.1 strain was of low risk to public health.
India has recorded a total of 21 COVID-19 cases of the sub-variant across the country. Hindustan Times reports that according to NITI Aayog member (health) Dr V.K. Paul, and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is working on its genome sequencing.
The cases are limited to three states as of now – 19 in Goa and one each in Kerala and Maharashtra.
Maharashtra health minister, Tanaji Sawant, asked people not to panic and added that the healthcare system of the state was fully prepared.
Earlier, the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) had called it the fastest growing variant in the US.
Reuters quoted two experts who said that while the strain can evade the immune system and transmit more easily than other currently circulating variants, it has not shown any signs of more severe disease.
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