JN. 1 variant in India: COVID-19 cases continue in India. On Friday, India recorded a single-day increase of 761 Covid-19 cases and 12 deaths in the past 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry said in a statement. .
According to the Ministry’s data, the active caseload saw a slight rise from yesterday’s 4,423 to 4,334, the data updated at 8 am stated. The total number of cases stood at 45 million.
Moreover, the death toll rose to 533,385, with 12 fatalities reported. The case fatality rate was pegged at 1.18 per cent, the health ministry said. In the past 24 hours, 838 people recuperated from Covid-19, taking the total number of recovered cases to 44 million. The national recovery rate was recorded at 98.81 per cent, the ministry said.
The resurgence of cases is being heavily monitored, mainly due to concerns about the JN. 1 variant of the coronavirus, classified as a “variant of interest” by the World Health Organization (WHO). JN. 1 is a sublineage of the Omicron variant and has been known as the most prevalent strain in the United States, accounting for more than 44% of cases.
In India, 541 cases of the JN. 1 subvariant have been reported in nine states as of Jan. 3, with Karnataka the highest number at 198, followed by 148 in Kerala. Other states where cases of JN. 1 have been detected are: 47 in Goa, 36 in Gujarat, 32 in Maharashtra, 30 in Andhra Pradesh, 26 in Tamil Nadu, 15 in Delhi, 4 in Rajasthan, two in Telangana and one each in Odisha and Haryana.
Experts caution that while JN. 1 is highly transmissible, it basically causes mild cold-like symptoms that affect the upper respiratory tract and that the overall risk is low. They also asked others not to panic, noting that viral respiratory illnesses regularly peak in the winter months.
Dr Rahul Verma, director of neonatology and general paediatrics at Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, told Financial Express. com that this variant is a derivative of the more contagious Omicron virus (BA 2. 86), it has the same symptoms as fever and cold. , cough, runny nose, and abdominal pains and body aches in children.
“Starting its spread from Kerala, the virus is thought to be now responsible for almost a third of COVID-19 infections in the population. So far, there does not seem to be an increased risk of complications noted with this strain. Overcrowding, the weather, and lack of precautions are some of the factors responsible for the spread of this infection in children,” Dr. Verma said.
It is known that the JN.1 is more transmissible; it could potentially lead to an increase in the overall number of cases, including in children. Children can contract and spread the virus, even if they are less likely to develop severe illness, Dr. Verma explained.