2024-01-05 23:23:20
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Friday that the JN.1 subvariant of the COVID virus caused regarding 62% of cases in the United States as of January 5, according to projections from the agency.
The agency said JN.1, which is a descendant of BA.2.86, is now the most widely distributed variant in the United States and around the world.
It is also the dominant variant in Europe and is increasing sharply in Asia, according to the CDC.
The predicted range of 55% to 68% of cases represents an increase from the CDC’s estimated prevalence of 39% to 50% of cases in the United States as of December 23.
The CDC said there is currently no evidence that JN.1 causes more severe disease and added that current vaccines should increase protection once morest JN.1.
Hospitalizations related to COVID-19 increased 20.4% in the week ending Dec. 30, according to the CDC.
In December, the World Health Organization classified the JN.1 strain as a “variant of interest” and said current data showed the risk to public health was low from this strain. (Reporting by Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)
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