JN.1 variant accounts for about 62% of Covid-19 cases in the US, says CDC

JN.1 variant accounts for about 62% of Covid-19 cases in the US, says CDC

The variant, an offspring of BA.2.86, is said to be also dominant in Europe and rising sharply in Asia.

The predicted range of 55% to 68% of cases in the US is an increase from the CDC’s projection of 39% to 50% as of Dec 23. (Gambar AP)
WASHINGTON:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday that Covid-19 subvariant JN.1 accounts for about 62% of cases in the US as of Jan 5, according to the agency’s projections.

The agency said JN.1, which is an offspring of BA.2.86, is now the most widely circulated variant in the US and globally.

It is also the dominant variant in Europe and is rising sharply in Asia, the CDC said.

The predicted range of 55% to 68% of cases is an increase from the estimated prevalence of 39% to 50% of cases in the US projected by the CDC as of Dec 23.

The CDC said currently there is no evidence that JN.1 causes more severe disease and added current vaccines are expected to increase protection against JN.1.

Covid-19 hospitalisations increased 20.4% in the week ended Dec 30, the CDC said.

In December, the World Health Organization classified JN.1 as a “variant of interest” and said current evidence shows the risk to public health was low from the strain.

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