New Covid Variant JN.1 Is Here. What to Know About Symptoms, Spread
The variant could cause an increase in cases amid a busy season for other infections
A newer Omicron subvariant is gaining speed, contributing to rising Covid-19 infections and hospitalizations in the U.S. ahead of the winter holidays.
The World Health Organization classified the variant, JN.1, as a variant of interest on Dec. 19, a step below variant-of-concern status. The variant could cause an increase in cases amid a busy season for other infections, the WHO said, but isn’t expected to increase strain on health systems more than the other circulating Covid-19 strains.
Here is what we know about the new variant:
What is the JN.1 Covid-19 variant?
JN.1 emerged in August, according to the WHO, and is an offshoot of the original Omicron variant. It is a descendant of the variant BA.2.86, nicknamed “Pirola,” which caused some concern among scientists but didn’t end up taking off.
Compared with BA.2.86, JN.1 has a single mutation difference in the spike protein, the WHO said.
“It looks like the mutation in the spike protein probably gives it some advantage,” said Emily Smith, an epidemiologist and infectious-disease expert at George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health.
How widespread is JN.1?
JN.1 has been spotted in 41 countries including the U.S. as of Dec. 16, the WHO said. It accounted for 27% of global virus sequences as of Dec. 3, and the countries reporting the highest portions of cases are France, the U.S., Singapore, Canada, the U.K. and Sweden.
In the U.S., JN.1 made up 44% of cases as of Dec. 23, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That is up from roughly 21% two weeks before. It is the most-common variant in the U.S. Nearly all variants circulating including JN.1 are Omicron subvariants.
What are the symptoms of the new variant?
New symptoms haven’t been reported with the variant, so the main symptoms to look for are still the same: cough, fever or chills, body aches, congestion, loss of smell and taste, sore throat and fatigue.
How dangerous is the new JN.1 variant?
The CDC said on Dec. 8 that there is no indication JN.1 causes more severe disease than other circulating variants.
The WHO said the additional public-health risk that JN.1 presents is “low” globally. But Covid-19 and other circulating pathogens could exacerbate the burden of respiratory disease, the WHO said. For most people, Covid-19 still poses the biggest risk for getting seriously ill compared with the flu or RSV.
“Things are circulating seasonally in a way that feels more in line with years past,” Smith said. “Covid is still one of the more serious bugs when we compare it to some of the others.”
Do Covid-19 vaccines work against JN.1?
Yes, data suggests they do. The WHO said current population immune defenses and the latest Covid-19 vaccines should be cross-reactive against JN.1. The variant’s ability to escape immune responses depends on the background immunity in each country, the organization said.
Vaccine makers Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax have said their updated Covid-19 shots generate immune responses against JN.1’s close parent, BA.2.86.
“Data shows that all of the antibodies are a really good fit, luckily, for JN.1,” said Jeremy Kamil, a virologist at Louisiana State University Health Shreveport. “That’s really good news.”
Kamil pointed out that Covid-19 vaccine uptake has been low this season, some 18% of adults having gotten a shot as of Dec. 15, according to the CDC. Some 42% of adults have gotten their flu shot this year and 17% of people 60 and older have gotten an RSV vaccine.
Are Covid-19 cases rising in the U.S.? How does this season compare with last year?
Yes, Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations are increasing in the U.S., with some 23,000 new Covid-related hospital admissions the week ending on Dec. 9, according to the CDC.
Covid-19 hospital-admission rates are significantly higher for people 70 and older, CDC data show. There were fewer Covid-19 hospital admissions in the last week compared with the same time last year. The CDC said in late November that it anticipated hospitalizations from respiratory diseases this fall and winter to be similar to last season.
Are flu and RSV cases increasing right now, too?
Yes, other viruses and pathogens including flu and RSV are spreading alongside Covid-19. RSV infections have been increasing for weeks but appear to be peaking in parts of the U.S., CDC data show.
The CDC estimates that at least 5.3 million people have gotten the flu this season, including some 54,000 hospitalizations and 3,200 deaths. Flu activity is elevated and increasing in most of the country.
What Covid-19 precautions should I take during the holidays?
Health officials are urging people to get vaccinated for Covid-19, flu and RSV, if eligible. The shots take about two weeks to provide full protection.
Wearing a mask in crowded places including airports, washing hands, covering coughs and sneezes and good ventilation all help, doctors said. People should take a test if they feel sick and stay home, and people with Covid-19 or the flu at risk of getting seriously ill should seek treatment.
“If people know they’re sick with a cough, a sore throat or runny nose, stay home,” said Dr. Steven Stack, Kentucky’s health commissioner and president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. “You’ll miss the gathering, but you won’t get everyone sick.”