WHO Classifies JN.1 COVID-19 Strain A “Variant Of Interest”

Reuters (12/19, Roy) reports, “The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday classified the JN.1 coronavirus strain as a ‘variant of interest’ and said current evidence shows risk to public health was low from the strain.” Experts have “told Reuters that while the strain can evade the immune system and transmit more easily than other currently circulating variants, it has not shown any signs of more severe disease.” CNN (12/19, Goodman) reports that in the US, the CDC “estimates that the coronavirus subvariant JN.1 is now causing about 20% of new Covid-19 infections in this country, and it’s the fastest-growing strain of the virus.” The new variant “is descended from BA.2.86, or Pirola, a subvariant that came to the world’s attention over the summer because of the large number of changes to its spike proteins: more than 30.” Compared to BA.2.86, “JN.1 has only one change to its spike protein...but that seems to have been enough to make it a fitter and faster virus.” The Hill (12/19, Weixel) reports, “The prevalence of JN.1 more than doubled between late November and mid-December, according to agency estimates, likely aided by holiday travel and gatherings. But it does not appear to be driving increases in hospitalizations.”