Cairo: A new variant of COVID-19 has been detected in Kuwait and no emergency measures are in the pipeline, a Kuwaiti health official said on Thursday.
“The JN. 1 variant has been monitored in the country, but the health scenario is stable. No preventive measures will be taken at this time,” Kuwaiti Health Ministry spokesperson Dr. Abdullah Al Sanad said.
Al Rai newspaper quoted unidentified sources as saying that the Ministry of Health has made available an updated version of a vaccine against COVID-19 for common strains of the virus at 42 health centres across the country.
People over 60, as well as other people with chronic illnesses and immunodeficiency, are urged to get vaccinated, the resources said.
Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated JN. 1 as a “variant of interest” amid a sharp increase in global spread.
Based on available data, the additional global public health threat posed by JN. 1 “is currently considered low,” according to the UN agency.
“Despite this, with the onset of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, JN. 1 could increase the burden of respiratory infections in many countries,” the WHO added.
The firm noted that existing vaccines continue to resist severe illness and death from JN. 1 and other circulating variants.
JN.1 is a descendant of Omicron and its symptoms seem to be similar to other variants including having a sore throat followed by congestion, according to specialists.
Past symptoms caused by COVID-19 including the loss taste or smell are less common.
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