New Covid variant spotted in 41 countries

Coronavirus variant JN.1, first detected in Luxembourg in August, is currently present in about 41 countries, including in India.

JN.1 has been classified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a ‘variant of interest’ but experts say the public risk is low.

However, JN.1 has a ‘greater likelihood’ than its parent strain Pirola (BA.2.86) of replacing Eris (EG.5.1) in Australia due to its rapid spread across 41 countries in fewer than four months, according to a clinician.

The new strain, first detected in the U.S. in September, is a related subvariant of Pirola, which has circulated in Australia for months.

Deakin University chair of epidemiology Professor Catherine Bennett said Pirola struggled to establish dominance around the country.

Professor Bennett said the recent Eris surge in Australia, linked to the latest COVID-19 wave, was beginning to plateau for the first time in five months.

JN.1's strain characteristics, including infectiousness, could ‘drive a new wave off the back of the current one’, Professor Bennett said.

Existing vaccines would continue to protect against severe disease and death from the new variant and others circulating, WHO said.