The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday classified the coronavirus strain JN.1 as a "variant of interest" and said that current data showed that the health risk from this variant was low, UNN reports, citing Reuters.
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At least two experts told Reuters that while the strain may evade immunity and be transmitted more easily than other variants currently circulating, it has shown no signs of being more severe.
Although there may be more cases with the variant, JN.1 does not pose a greater risk, said Andrew Pekosh, a virologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
JN.1 was previously classified as a "variant of interest" as part of the parent BA.2.86, but has now been classified as a separate "variant of interest".
The WHO has indicated that current vaccines will continue to protect against severe illness and death with JN.1 and other circulating variants of Covid-19.
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JN.1 was first detected in the United States in September, according to the CDC.
Last week, China detected seven cases of a sub-variant of Covid.