ES is the third state in Brazil to confirm JN1

ES is the third state in Brazil to confirm JN.1, a new strain of Covid A Gazeta ES

The state Department of Health reported this was the first case detected in the southeastern region

Published on December 21, 2023 at 3:40 p.m

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Of 91 samples sent to the Espírito Santo Central Public Health Laboratory (Lacen/ES), one tested positive for JN.1. No information was given about the age or health of the infected person nor about their whereabouts.

According to the GISAID platform, this is the first time the variant has appeared in the southeastern region. Until then it had only been identified in Mato Grosso do Sul and Ceará.

“We are the third state to report its occurrence and the first in the southeast region. This sequenced sample refers to the delivery on November 12 and this confirms that even if it is detected, we cannot say that JN.1 has changed the situation.” “The epidemiological situation in the state, because in addition to the declining one With the number of samples sent, we are also observing a decrease in the positivity rate in Espírito Santo,” explained the director of Lacen/ES, Rodrigo Ribeiro Rodrigues.

What is known

According to the WHO, JN.1 poses a low risk to global health and is slowly growing in 47 countries. However, it is worth noting that it is responsible for the significant increase in new Covid cases in Ceará.

Although there is no growth trend in new cases in Espírito Santo, the Undersecretary of Health Surveillance, Orlei Cardoso, stressed that measures to combat the virus must continue.

“Vaccination against Covid is available to the entire eligible population aged 6 months and over. It is important that priority groups in particular keep their vaccination schedule up to date. It should be remembered that a second bivalent dose of vaccine is available for the elderly over 60 years of age and immunocompromised people, and we also need to increase the vaccination of children whose vaccination coverage is low,” explained the State Secretary.

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