Rapid Rise in COVID Cases in India, WHO Urges Caution over New Variant JN.1

Patna, Apr 10 (ANI): A healthcare worker collects a nasal Rapid Rise in COVID Cases in India, WHO Urges Caution over New Variant JN.1 sample of a person for COVID-19 testing in view of the rising Coronavirus cases, at New Gardiner Road Hospital, in Patna on Monday. (ANI Photo)

VoM News Desk | December 23, 2023 | 10:55 AM IST | Breaking News, Health | Follow on Google News

Rapid Rise in COVID Cases in India, WHO Urges Caution over New Variant JN.1/ANI

Rapid Rise in COVID Cases in India, WHO Urges Caution over New Variant JN.1

India witnessed a substantial surge in fresh COVID-19 cases, primarily led by Kerala, contributing 266 of the reported 423 cases in the last 24 hours, as per Union health ministry data. Additionally, Karnataka recorded 70 new cases, with two reported deaths in Kerala. Active cases across the country totaled 3,420.

Amid escalating concerns over a new coronavirus variant, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former WHO chief scientist, emphasized caution but advised against panic, labeling the variant, JN.1, as a “variant of interest,” not a “variant of concern.” She noted the absence of data suggesting heightened severity or increased fatality linked to this variant.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently classified JN.1 as a separate variant from its parent lineage BA.2.86. While stressing a low overall risk associated with JN.1 based on current evidence, WHO warned of its potential to augment respiratory infections, particularly with the onset of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

WHO’s latest report highlighted a 52% rise in new COVID cases globally over the past four weeks, with over 850,000 new cases and 3,000 fatalities reported in the same period. Despite this, vaccines continue to offer protection against severe illness and death from JN.1 and other circulating variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19.

The organization cautioned that COVID-19 isn’t the sole respiratory disease in circulation, noting the rise of influenza, RSV, and common childhood pneumonia. WHO strongly advised employing all available preventive measures, including mask-wearing in crowded settings, maintaining physical distance, practicing good respiratory etiquette, frequent hand hygiene, and undergoing testing if symptomatic or exposed to potential COVID-19 or influenza carriers.

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