In recent days, Peru’s National Institute of Health announced that it had identified the first twelve cases of the JN.1 lineage in the South American country.
This subvariant comes from the BA.2.86 lineage, known as pirola, which in turn is derived from the omicron variant.
COVID-19: WHO classifies the JN.1 variant as of interest
On December 19, the World Health Organization classified the JN.1 lineage as a “variant of concern” and separated it from BA.2.86.
The subvariant has been detected in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Brazil.
WHO believes that the spread of the variant will not increase the burden on national public health compared to other omicron sublineages.
The JN.1 variant has a moderate risk of immune evasion compared to its predecessor, which in turn had immune evasion against EG.5, which is found worldwide. It has an additional mutation in the spike protein.
However, the institute specified that the XBB.1.5 variant still remains the most common variant among reported cases in the South American country.
“Faced with the detection of this variant, the Minsa recommends strengthening the control measures for Covid-19, especially by completing the corresponding vaccination schedule, which includes the application of the bivalent vaccine, which provides specific protection against omicron lines such as JN .1”, it was indicated.
Source: Eluniverso
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