Expers Say JN.1 Variant May Cause Bigger Wave
N.1, the currently dominant and highly transmissible Covid-19 sub-variant, may result in a bigger wave than the previous ones, according to global experts. The JN.1 variant, classified as a variant of interest (VOI) by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to its rapid spread, is currently present in more than 41 countries, including India. It was first detected in Luxembourg in August. JN.1 is similar to its parent BA.2.86, but has an additional mutation (L455S) in the spike protein, which has immune-evasion properties. "Unfortunately, it is likely that this JN.1 wave has not yet peaked and will peak mid-January, either next week or the week after," Professor Christina Pagel of University College London (UCL) previously told i news."I am sure this wave will rival the first two Omicron waves in 2022 and might even exceed them." "By wastewater levels, JN.1 is now associated with the second-biggest wave of infections in the US in the pandemic, after Omicron.