Covid-19 JN.1 variant spreads in Asia: Should India be worried as cases rise in Singapore?

Parts of Asia including countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong, China, and Thailand are seeing surge in COVID-19 cases with health authorities keeping a close watch on the JN.1 variant — a sublineage of the Omicron strain.

What is the JN.1 Variant?

JN.1 is a descendant of the BA.2.86 (Pirola) strain and was first identified in late 2023. It has since spread to several countries including India, the US, UK, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The variant carries a unique mutation in its spike protein, potentially making it more transmissible and better able to evade immunity from past infections or vaccinations.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified JN.1 as a "variant of interest," indicating close monitoring though it is not currently known to cause more severe disease than previous variants.

What is the present status?

Singapore reported around 14,200 COVID-19 cases in the week ending May 3, up from 11,100 the previous week. “The increase in cases could be due to several factors, including waning population immunity. At present, LF.7 and NB.1.8 (both descendants of the JN.1 variant) are the main COVID-19 variants circulating in Singapore, together accounting for more than two-thirds of locally sequenced cases. JN.1 is also the variant used in the formulation of the current COVID-19 vaccine,” Singapore’s health ministry said in a statement on May 13.

In Hong Kong, the positivity rate in respiratory samples has reached the highest level in a year, with 31 deaths recorded in just one week — the highest in 12 months.

India's status: Under control but cautious

India has recorded 257 active COVID-19 infections reported. Surveillance continues under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), with hospitals asked to monitor influenza-like illnesses and severe respiratory infections.

Symptoms and vaccine response

JN.1 infections generally present mild to moderate symptoms similar to other Omicron variants: sore throat, cough, fever, fatigue, and runny nose. Some may experience conjunctivitis, diarrhoea, or stomach issues.

Current vaccines, especially updated mRNA boosters, continue to offer strong protection against severe illness, even if they are less effective at preventing mild infection.

Precautionary measures

Health authorities advise people to wear masks in crowded places, maintain hand hygiene, avoid close contact with symptomatic individuals, and stay updated with vaccinations and booster doses.