A New Variant Spikes Covid-19 Cases
Posted by admin on 2023-12-26 |
India recorded 628 new Covid-19 cases in a single day, as
reported by the Union Health Ministry on Monday. This surge has elevated the
active caseload to over 4,000, with a total of 4,054 active Covid-19 cases reported
in the past 24 hours. A single death in Kerala increased the nationwide death
toll to 5,33,334.
Kerala, which has been accounting for a major chunk of
the cases reported across the country in recent days, reported 565 new Covid
cases in the last 24 hours. The active cases in the state stand at 2,872."
The country's total Covid case tally reached 4.50 crore with the fresh
infections reported.
JN.1: A New Variant
JN.1 was first reported in Kerala on 8 December in a
78-year-old woman. JN.1, recognized as a descendant of the Omicron variant of
SARS-CoV-2, has emerged as a highly mutated strain originating from the BA.2.86
variant, nicknamed Pirola.
The BA.2.86 lineage was first identified in August 2023
in India and carries more than 30 mutations in the spike protein, which helps
the virus infect cells. Both JN.1 and BA.2.86 have similar characteristics, but
for one feature—JN.1 has an extra spike protein. Dr Lalit Kant, former
scientist with the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), India’s apex
medical research body, says that the presence of this extra spike protein in
JN.1 could potentially contribute to a faster spread of the infection.
According to the WHO, JN.1's growth advantage increased
from just 3.3% of all the coronavirus cases between October 30 and November 5
to 27% a month later. Experts suggest that the heightened transmissibility of
the JN.1 strain is attributed to its capability to evade immunity and extend
the duration of infection.
Health Experts’ Perspective
“The
variant is currently under intense scientific scrutiny but not a cause of
immediate concern. All JN.1 cases were found to be mild and all of them have
recovered without any complications,” the Health Ministry has said.
Commenting on the
variant, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj remarked, "The new strain
of Covid is a sub-variant of Omicron. It has two aspects. They are not very
dangerous. We are reviewing the health infrastructure in different
states."
"Precautions need
to be taken, but panic should not be created," he said.
"While the JN.1 variant seems more transmissible, there's no
current evidence suggesting it causes more severe illness," Dr Devashish
Desai, Consultant, Infectious Diseases, Ruby Hall Clinic.
"As the situation evolves, staying up-to-date with vaccinations is a key strategy to mitigate the potential impact of emerging variants like JN.1 on public health.” Dr Dipu TS, Associate Professor, Internal Medicine at Amrita Hospital, Kochi.
Government’s Response
On December 20, the Union Health Ministry held a review
meeting, held by Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, about the sudden increase
in Covid-19 cases and deaths in several parts of the country. “Let us undertake
mock drills once every three months at both Central and State levels and share best
practices,” he during the meet.
The ICMR (Indian Council for Medical Research) has
provided Bharat Biotech with strains of all existing variants. As of Sunday, a
total of 63 cases of the JN.1 variant have been reported across the country.
Among these, 34 cases were identified in Goa, nine in Maharashtra, eight in
Karnataka, six in Kerala, four in Tamil Nadu, and two in Telangana.
In response to the situation, the Karnataka government
has mandated the use of masks for senior citizens and individuals with
comorbidities, with the possibility of other states adopting similar measures.
There is optimism that, with appropriate precautions in place, the country will
successfully navigate through the current surge in infections.
