COVID: One case of JN.1 subvariant found in Kerala; symptoms similar to influenza like illness

A case of JN.1 subvariant of COVID-19 has been detected in Kerala, as part of the ongoing routine surveillance activity by INSACOG, as per an official statement quoting Dr Rajiv Bahl, DG, ICMR says. The case was detected in a RT-PCR positive sample from Karakulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on 8th December 2023.

The JN.1 subvariant, that is already in circulation in the US and 11 other countries, is a descendant of BA.2.86, a subvariant of Omicron. As per the US CDC, the JN.1 variant was first found in the US in September 2023. "Neither JN.1 nor BA.2.86 is common in the United States right now. In fact, JN.1 has been detected so rarely that it makes up fewer than 0.1 percent of SARS-CoV-2 viruses," it had said in an official statement in October.

There has been an increasing trend of COVID-19 cases from the State of Kerala since the last few weeks. This has been attributed to an increase in number of samples from ILI cases being referred for testing. A majority of these cases are clinically mild and recovering on their own at their homes without any treatment, says the statement. A mock drill in all health facilities in States is currently underway to assess their public health and hospital preparedness measures. This activity, which started from 13th December, is being carried out under the overall supervision of the district collectors and is likely to be completed by 18th December 2023, it adds.

As per the statement, the infected person showed mild symptoms of Influenza Like Illness (ILI). Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) typically presents with sudden onset of symptoms that resemble influenza. Common manifestations include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, muscle or body aches, fatigue, and headache. Individuals with ILI may also experience nasal congestion, runny nose, and occasionally gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea or diarrhea. The symptoms are often more severe than those of the common cold and can lead to respiratory distress. It's crucial to consult healthcare professionals for accurate diagnosis and appropriate management, especially during influenza seasons, as ILI can be caused by various respiratory viruses, not solely influenza.

"There is only a single change between JN.1 and BA.2.86 in the spike protein," says the US CDC and adds that because of this the vaccines should work against JN.1 and BA.2.86 similarly. In the recent weeks, JN.1 was held accountable for more than 1 in 5 new COVID cases.