ICMR attempting genome sequencing of new JN.1 Covid variant, say officials

-

According to Union Health Ministry officials on Wednesday, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is working on sequencing the genome of the novel JN.1 strain of SARS-CoV-2.

According to NITI Aayog member (health) Dr. V K Paul, 21 cases of COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 have been found nationwide to date. This information was shared on Wednesday.

He stressed the necessity for states to step up testing and fortify their monitoring system while stating that the scientific community in India was attentively examining the new variation.

Officials told the media that one case each in Kerala and Maharashtra and nineteen cases in Goa have been linked to the COVID-19 subvariant JN.1.

16 COVID-19-related deaths in the last two weeks have been reported, and the deceased had significant comorbidities.

Paul noted that roughly 91 to 92 percent of individuals infected are choosing home-based treatment, indicating minor sickness, in the midst of an increase in Covid cases throughout the nation.

There hasn’t been a rise in hospitalisation rates linked to COVID-19.

Hospitalisations are being caused by many medical diseases; COVID-19 is an incidental finding, according to officials.

The JN.1 (BA.2.86.1.1) variety, which is descended from the SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86 lineage (Pirola), first appeared in late 2023.

The August 2023-discovered BA.2.86 lineage differs phylogenetically from the circulating SARS-CoV-2 Omicron XBB lineages, such as EG.5.1 and HK.3.

The government stated that BA.2.86 has a strong potential for immune evasion because it carries more than 30 mutations in the spike (5) protein.

Currently, JN.1 is regarded as a variation of interest (VOI) by WHO.

Regarding regional distribution, reports of the JN.1 variant have been made in the USA, China, Singapore, and India. It represents a small but significant portion of the population, estimated to potentially comprise 15–29% of circulating variants in the US.

Whether a JN.1 infection causes different symptoms from other variations is unknown at this time. They said that COVID-19 symptoms are often consistent between variations.

JN.1 does not appear to be causing any increased severity. According to the officials, there is currently no proof that JN.1 poses a greater risk to public health than other varieties that are now in circulation.

RT-PCR is an efficient laboratory technique currently used for JN.1 detection.

The ministry had stated on Monday that the current COVID-19 treatment line is anticipated to be effective against JN.1 infection and that the upgraded COVID-19 vaccines are anticipated to boost protection against JN.1 as they do for other variations.

(With agency inputs)



from Firstpost India Latest News https://ift.tt/uj3X60y
Ajeyo Basu

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Both COVID-19 vaccine doses needed for good protection against B16172 variant

-
It’s been a concerning few weeks in the UK, with the B16172 variant first taking hold and then spreading to become dominant. This more infectious form of the virus, initially identified in India, is what we’re now going to have to live with – unless it is out-competed by another variant in the future. Worryingly, experts had predicted that B16172 might be able to escape some of the effects of vaccines, which if true would threaten to derail the UK’s plans to finish lifting restrictions from the end of June. However, Public Health England (PHE) has looked at the ability of various variants to evade immunity and says that the UK’s vaccines remain effective against the variants circulating, including B16172. On the surface, this looks like good news. But delve a bit deeper, and things get more complicated, says Paul Hunter, professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia. PHE’s research found a little drop-off in protection against B16172 among people who were fully vaccinated.
Read more

New coronavirus variant emerge in India: How should our COVID response change?

-
Image
After genome sequencing of over 10,000 COVID-19 cases in India, researchers have discovered a new variant with two new mutations which may be better at evading the immune system. In 15-20 percent of samples from the Indian state of Maharashtra (the state accounting for 62 percent of cases in the country) a new, double mutation in key areas of the virus has been detected. These are now known as the E484Q and L452R mutations. What makes the variant different? Both these mutations are concerning because they are located in a key portion of the virus – the spike protein – that it uses to penetrate human cells. Spike proteins attach via a “receptor binding domain”, meaning the virus can attach to receptors in our cells. These new mutations include changes to the spike protein that make it a “better fit” for human cells. This means the virus can gain entry more easily and multiply faster. Given what we have seen with other similar mutations , it might also make it harder for our immu
Read more

120 flights delayed, 30 trains running late; Delhi fog & cold wave continue to give shiver to travellers

-
Arrival and departure of 120 flights, both domestic and international, to Delhi airport were affected due to dense fog and cold wave conditions on Wednesday, according to Delhi Airport FIDS (Flight Information Display System). As per the Delhi Airport FIDS, a total of 53 flights, including 21 domestic arrivals, 16 domestic departures, 13 international departures and three international arrivals scheduled are cancelled and not operating due to fog and other operational reasons from and to Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in the national capital on 17 January. #WATCH | Delhi: Several flight operations delayed at IGI airport due to low visibility amid fog. pic.twitter.com/hG1DUKllEt — ANI (@ANI) January 17, 2024 Visuals from the Delhi airport showed passengers waiting outside, checking update of their scheduled flights. There were also some people waiting for flight of their families, friends and loved ones to arrive, which got delayed due to fog. #WATCH | Delhi | Pas
Read more