Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board
Introduction
As the world persists in its battle and recovery against the COVID-19 pandemic, a new strain called JN.1 is circulating across the United States, accounting for 83% to 88% of all present variants near the end of January (Katella, 2024). Scientists and health officials from the CDC and WHO are closely monitoring the variant, stating that its rapid spread implies that this JN.1 variant is easier to catch or is better at avoiding the immune system compared to other variants.
Background
JN.1, "Juncture Novelty 1," is a close relative of BA.2.86, a lineage of the Omicron variant. Although this JN.1 has appeared rather recently, it has already sparked concerns and become a variant of interest due to its unique genetic makeup- which is distinct from previous strains of the coronavirus- and due to its enhanced ability to evade the immune system (Yang et al., 2023). First identified in a small cluster of cases within the U.S. during September, primarily in densely populated urban areas, this variant is capturing attention for its apparent increased transmissibility. Preliminary studies indicate that JN.1 may spread more rapidly than earlier strains. (González, 2023).
A prominent feature of JN.1 is its spike protein- which is a key target for the immune system and a focal point for vaccines. This spike protein makes JN.1 differ from its close relative, BA.2.86, as the JN.1 variant demonstrates a faster infection rate than BA.2.86 globally. According to CDC (2023a), the current vaccines against COVID-19 are effective against JN.1- however, debates for enhanced protections are in action.
Public Health
The symptoms of JN.1, which are similar to other omicron variants, include sore throat, congestion and runny nose, fevers, chills, cough, and fatigue- however, these symptoms mainly depend on the person's health and immune system (Rauf, 2024).
According to CDC (2023b), those hospitalized due to COVID-19 increased by 51% in late 2023. This shows the importance of keeping vaccination shots up-to-date, with only an estimated 18% of adults receiving the latest COVID-19 shot by December 9th (Goodman, 2023).
More information about this topic requires further research. Currently, the CDC is tracking JN.1 and is monitoring for updates and important news.
References
CDC. (2023a, December 8). Update on SARS-CoV-2 Variant JN.1 | CDC. Www.cdc.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/whats-new/SARS-CoV-2-variant-JN.1.html
CDC. (2023b, December 14). Health Alert Network (HAN) - 00503 | Urgent Need to Increase Immunization Coverage for Influenza, COVID-19, and RSV and Use of Authorized/Approved Therapeutics in the Setting of Increased Respiratory Disease Activity During the 2023 – 2024 Winter Season. Emergency.cdc.gov. https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/2023/han00503.asp
González, L. (2023, December 20). COVID-19 Variant JN.1 is on the Rise. Here’s What to Know. | UC San Francisco. Www.ucsf.edu. https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2023/12/426886/covid-19-variant-rise-what-know
Goodman, B. (2023, December 19). Coronavirus subvariant JN.1 growing fast in US, already dominant in the Northeast. CNN; CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/19/health/what-to-know-about-jn-1/index.html
Katella, K. (2024, February 5). 3 Things to Know About JN.1, the New Coronavirus Strain. Yale Medicine. https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/jn1-coronavirus-variant-covid#:~:text=Most%20recently%20a%20strain%20called
Rauf, D. (2024, January 19). Understanding the JN.1 COVID Variant: Symptoms, Spread, and Prevention. EverydayHealth.com. https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/what-are-the-symptoms-of-jn-1-the-new-covid-19-variant/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CJN.1%20is%20fairly%20similar
Yang, S., Yu, Y., Xu, Y., Jian, F., Song, W., Ayijiang Yisimayi, Wang, P., Wang, J., Liu, J., Yu, L., Niu, X., Wang, J., Wang, Y., Shao, F., Jin, R., Wang, Y., & Cao, Y. (2023). Fast evolution of SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86 to JN.1 under heavy immune pressure. BioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), 2. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.11.13.566860