India is experiencing a spike in Covid-19 cases, with the highest number reported in Kerala, and concerns are rising about the JN.1 sub-variant. The country has witnessed an upward trend in active cases, reaching 4,054 patients. Despite the increasing prevalence of the JN.1 sub-variant, health authorities, including former AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria, assure that it is not causing severe infections or hospitalizations.
Dr NK Arora, chief of the India SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), stated that an additional vaccine dose is currently not necessary specifically for the JN.1 sub-variant. However, health experts recommend precautionary booster doses to enhance protection against various sub-variants and virus mutations.
While the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified JN.1 as a variant of interest, it emphasizes that the overall risk remains low based on current evidence. The WHO has urged Southeast Asian countries, including India, to intensify surveillance and implement protective measures.
As the situation unfolds, health authorities continue to monitor and adapt precautionary measures to curb the spread of the virus and mitigate the impact of emerging sub-variants.
