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An alert has been issued following the detection of a new variant of Covid-19. Health experts say the JN. 1 strain is “more transmissible” and has been discovered in several countries.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has shown the emergence of the variant. It has been detected in the United Kingdom, the United States, Portugal, Spain and France.
As The Express reported, experts are still learning a lot about JN. 1. Although lately this variant accounts for only a fraction of coronavirus cases, fitness officials say it could soon prove problematic.
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According to Amesh Adalja, a senior researcher at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, JN. 1 is a descendant of BA. 2. 86, better known as the Pirola variant, itself derived from Omicron. As reported via Prevention. com, Thomas Russo, professor and chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo in New York, said: “BA. 2. 86 has more than 20 mutations in the spike protein and there was fear when it was first detected. A while ago, wow, this could be a real problem.
He explained that JN. 1 has an additional mutation in its spike protein of BA. 2. 86, which the coronavirus uses to attach to your cells and make you sick. So far, 51 cases of JN. 1 have been reported globally, in 11 countries. .
Dr Russo said: “JN. 1 has been described in a number of countries, including the United States, Iceland, Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands. It’s also becoming more common in France and it turns out it’s taking off.
He added that JN.1 seems to be “much more immune evasive than its parents” due to a mutation on its spike protein. This makes the variant “quite devious”, according to Dr Russo.
He explained: “As a result, we may be at risk of getting more infections.” There are also fears that JN.1 could be highly contagious.
“Some knowledge suggests that JN. 1’s parent BA. 2. 86 is possibly more transmissible than previous variants,” Dr. Russo said. “Since JN. 1 is a derivative of BA. 2. 86, it is feared that it will not. “it will no longer be transmissible. “
The CDC lists the usual symptoms of JN. 1 as follows:
If you have Covid symptoms, the NHS recommends you stay at home and avoid contact with other people, if possible, for five days.