JN.1 COVID VARIANT - SCI & TECH
News: Detection of new JN.1 variant in Kerala
What is in the news?
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Recently, the Union
government told all the states to monitor the earlier detection of the new JN.1
Covid-19 variant.
About JN.1 variant:
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Variant
Lineage: JN.1 is a sub-variant of BA.2.86, also known as Pirola, first detected in the United States in September and globally as
early as January.
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Mutation
Characteristics: While JN.1 has only one additional
mutation on the spike protein compared to Pirola, its high number of spike
protein mutations has drawn the attention of researchers.
Potential Impact of JN.1:
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Transmission
and Severity: Currently, there is no evidence
suggesting that JN.1 causes more severe symptoms or spreads faster than other
circulating variants.
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WHO
Assessment: Both Pirola
and JN.1 have been effectively neutralized by serum from infected and
vaccinated individuals, according to the WHO Technical Advisory Group on
COVID-19 Vaccine Composition.