The Centre on Monday asked states and union territories to maintain constant vigil amid an uptick in COVID-19 cases and the detection of the first case of the new JN.1 variant in the country. In a letter to states and union territories, Union Health Secretary Sudhansh Pant underlined that “due to consistent and collaborative actions between the Centre and state governments, we have been able to sustain the (COVID-19) trajectory at sustainable low rates”.
“However, as the COVID-19 virus continues to circulate and its epidemiological habit adapts to Indian climatic situations and the flow of other common pathogens, it is vital to gain momentum to cope well with demanding public health situations,” he said.
Recently, some states such as Kerala have reported a slight increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, Pant noted. The first Indian case of the JN. 1 subvariant of COVID-19 was detected in Kerala on December 8. Tamil Nadu’s Tiruchirapalli district has tested positive for the JN. 1 variant in Singapore. Given the upcoming holiday season, Pant said, states implemented required public fitness measures and other provisions to minimize the threat of disease transmission.
States were asked to ensure effective compliance with the detailed operating rules for the revised COVID-19 surveillance strategy, as per percentage through the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. They called for influenza-like infections to be tracked and reported across the district. OS) and severe acute respiratory disease (SARI) in all fitness centers on a regular basis for early detection of the upward trend in cases. States have also been asked to ensure good enough testing in all districts in accordance with COVID-19 testing rules. and the recommended percentage of RT-PCR and antigen tests.
In his letter, Pant also presses on the desire to increase the number of RT-PCR tests and send positive samples for genome sequencing to the Indian laboratories of the Indian SARS COV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) to enable the immediate detection of new variants. , where appropriate, in the país. país. Se has asked states to raise awareness on the Internet in order to seek from the population a continuous follow-up in the control of COVID-19, adding compliance with respiratory hygiene.
Stating that the first case of JN.1 (BA.2.86.1.1) has been detected in India, Pant attached details about the variant in an annexure.It stated that JN.1 (BA.2.86.1.1) emerged in late 2023 and is a descendant of the BA.2.86 lineage (Pirola) of SARS COV2.The BA.2.86 lineage, first identified in August 2023, is phylogenetically distinct from the circulating SARS-CoV-2 Omicron XBB lineages, including EG.5.1 and HK.3.
BA. 2. 86 carries more than 30 mutations in the Spike protein (5), indicating a high potential for immune evasion. The JN. 1 variant has been reported in the United States, China, Singapore and India. Seven cases of the subvariant have been reported in China. Additional knowledge of genetic sequencing is needed to verify its presence in other countries. Lately, it’s unclear whether JN. 1 infection causes symptoms other than other variants, the appendix says. In general, COVID-19 symptoms tend to be similar across variants. There is also no indication of increased severity of JN. 1.
Currently, there is no evidence that JN. 1 poses a growing threat to public health compared to other variants circulating lately, the annex says. The existing COVID-19 remedy line is expected to be effective against JN. 1 infection. And updated vaccines are expected to build coverage against the variant, he said.
Mandaviya to hold review assembly: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will review the readiness of fitness services and departments on Dec. 20 for a surge in cases of respiratory illnesses, adding Covid, in some states, officials said on Monday. assembly with fitness ministers and other chief secretaries leaders (fitness) from all states and union territories (UTs) and heads of relevant ministries and central departments, they said.
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