From WHO's warning to the JN.1 variant, what you need to know about the recent Covid surge

As Covid re-emerges amidst the peak holiday travel season, a new variant, JN.1, has come to light, causing concern. India has also witnessed a sudden spike in Covid cases, while the WHO has released a video discussing the recent case surge and preventive measures.

Even though the spike in cases is not alarming, people who have seen the devastation caused by coronavirus in the last three years are bound to panic a bit.

What's happening

A sudden surge in Covid cases has been observed lately. The latest variant contributing to this increase is a sub-lineage of BA.2.86 – JN.1, initially identified in Luxembourg and now on the rise. Here's a detailed insight into the virus:

Advisory for travellers by Singapore's Health Ministry

The Singapore Health Ministry issued fresh guidelines for citizens and travelers within the country, particularly concerning individuals arriving from India. Notable points from the statement:

An estimated surge in Covid cases to 56,043 from December 3rd to December 9th, 2023, compared to the 32,035 cases reported in the previous week.

• The ministry has advised that if you feel sick with a bad cough or breathing problems, it's best to stay home until you feel better and avoid contact with other people.
• They have also emphasized that if you need to be around others, wear a mask, maintain distance, and steer clear of crowded places where people gather.
• The Ministry of Health highlights the importance of wearing masks in crowded settings, especially during travel.

The WHO warning

On December 17 (Sunday), the World Health Organisation (WHO) shared a video featuring Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, the Covid-19 technical lead of the global health body. In the video, she explained the reasons behind the surge in cases and discussed precautions that can be taken.

Kerkhove highlighted that the recent surge in respiratory infections stems from various factors, including increased gatherings during the holiday season and the prevalence of other infections.

She stated, "It’s not just Covid-19 that’s circulating; we have influenza, other viruses, and bacteria. In other parts of the world, we are entering the winter months and people are starting to gather for the holiday season. As people gather, they spend more time indoors, especially if there is poor ventilation. These pathogens that spread efficiently between people and through the air will take advantage.”

Dr Kerkhove attributed the rise to the increased crowding of people during the holiday season and also mentioned the 'evolving nature of the virus' as contributing factors.

She also has advised people to get themselves vaccinated if they haven't yet/

Check out the complete post here:

Dr @mvankerkhove talks about the current surge in respiratory diseases #COVID19 and JN.1 subvariant.

WHO continues to assess the situation. Follow WHO's public health advice to keep your families and friends safe during this holiday season. pic.twitter.com/HvAZVMMN49

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) December 17, 2023

India see spike in cases

India has also witnessed a sudden spike in Covid cases, recording 335 fresh Covid-19 infections on Sunday, causing the number of active cases to rise to 1,701, as reported by the Union Health Ministry.

• Not only that, five deaths were reported — four in Kerala alone and one in Uttar Pradesh. Among these deaths, one was attributed to the JN.1 sub-variant detected in a 79-year-old woman on December 8.

• Despite this, Kerala Health Minister Veena George mentioned that it was not a cause for concern as the sub-variant had been previously detected in Indian passengers screened at Singapore airport months ago.

• The latest: In response to the detection of the Covid case in neighboring Kerala, the Karnataka Covid-19 Technical Advisory Committee will convene on December 19 to discuss its impact.

​About JN.1 variant  

• This new sub-variant, originally identified in Luxembourg, derives from the Pirola variant (BA.2.86), a lineage of the Omicron sub-variant.

• The JN.1 variant exhibits specific alterations in the spike protein, potentially enhancing its contagiousness and ability to evade certain facets of the immune system.

• This could result in increased infectivity, posing challenges for the immune system to identify and combat it effectively.

• Reported symptoms include fever, runny nose, sore throat, headache, and, occasionally, mild gastrointestinal symptoms.