WHO Declares New COVID-19 Strain JN.1 as 'Standalone Variant of Interest' Due to Its Rapidly Increasing Spread

 The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the new COVID-19 variant JN.1 a 'standalone variant of interest'. WHO's decision was prompted by the strain's 'rapidly increasing spread'. Media reports added that the new variants' characteristics and growth advantage over other strains in circulation prompted the early warning.

Though WHO assessed the global public health risk of JN.1 as low, it warned that countries approaching winter should be aware that COVID-19 and other pathogens may exacerbate respiratory disease seasons. "Despite this, with the onset of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, JN.1 could increase the burden of respiratory infections in many countries," it said.

"While there is a rapid increase in JN.1 infections, and likely increase in cases, available limited evidence does not suggest that the associated disease severity is higher as compared to other circulating variants," WHO said in its risk assessment of the strain.

Coronavirus vaccines are also expected to work on JN.1. "Current vaccines, including those based on ancestral strain as well as the updated monovalent XBB vaccines continue to provide protection against severe disease and death, including against JN.1," WHO's Maria Van Kerkhove said on social media.