The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the new variant of Covid19, JN.1, as a strain of interest, separate from the maternal line BA.2.86. Although the variant does not currently pose a global public health risk, it is spreading rapidly around the world, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere, due to the onset of winter.
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Previously, JN.1 was classified and traced as part of the BA.2.86 lineage, which is a descendant of the Omicron variant. In contrast to the maternal line, JN.1 has an additional mutation in the spike protein, which is responsible for the pathogen's entry into human cells. The strain has already been found in India, China, the United Kingdom and the United States.
“All viruses, including SARSCoV2, the virus that causes Covid19, change over time. Most changes have little or no impact on the properties of the virus. “However, some changes may affect the characteristics of the virus, such as the ease of its spread, the severity of associated disease, or the effectiveness of vaccines and therapeutic drugs,” the WHO said.
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The organization assured that current vaccines remain effective against severe illness and death from JN.1 and other circulating variants of SARSCoV2. To avoid contamination, WHO recommends wearing masks in crowded, closed or poorly ventilated areas, maintaining a safe distance from other people and washing your hands when possible.