JN.1 variant now make up majority of COVID 19 cases in the US

A variant named JN.1, derived from the omicron variant BA.2.86, currently accounts for an estimated 61.6% of COVID-19 cases in the United States, up from 3.3% in mid-November, reveals data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The northeast region is the most impacted, with 74.9% of COVID-19 cases. The World Health Organization classified JN.1 as a "variant of interest" last month, implying it may potentially increase transmission or diminish the effectiveness of treatments or vaccines. Meanwhile, COVID-19 hospitalizations continue escalating for the eighth consecutive week. The CDC notes, JN.1 has an additional mutation in its spike protein, suggesting it may be either more transmissible or more proficient at bypassing the immune system relative to other circulating variants. Dr. Peter Chin Hong, a professor of medicine and infectious disease expert at the University of California, San Francisco noted the rising tracking of JN.1 is a positive sign of the U.S. health system's ability to identify and monitor the spread of new variants. He concluded by stating it’s important for adults to receive updated vaccines, even though existing tests, treatments and vaccines should remain effective against JN.1. As of last Friday, only 19.4% of adults aged 18 and older had received the updated vaccine, according to CDC data. The CDC added that COVID-19 test positivity in wastewater samples is currently higher than it was at this stage last year. Although JN.1 does not seem to cause more severe symptoms or illnesses, its higher transmissibility necessitates careful monitoring and an up-to-date immunization strategy.