The corona virus that shook the world five years ago has started raising its head once again. The memories of work from home, masks, lockdown and empty streets are still fresh in people's minds. In such a situation, when the news of the new variant JN.1 of Covid-19 came to the fore, it is natural that a wave of concern spread. Are the same conditions going to return again? Will masks, social distancing and sanitizers become a part of our lives? Let us know every important information related to this new threat.

What is the JN.1 variant?

JN.1 is a sub-variant of the Omicron family of the corona virus, which was first identified in August 2023. This variant is associated with BA.2.86 and according to scientists, mutations are happening rapidly in it, due to which its transmission rate is also high. That is, this variant can spread faster than before.

What are its symptoms?

According to the American organization CDC, the symptoms of JN.1 are not very different from the rest of the variants, but it is more known for its rapid spread. Symptoms include:

Runny nose

Dry cough

Fever

Sore throat

Headache

Vomiting or nausea

Diarrhea

Chills

How much danger is there in India?

At present, the situation in India is under control, but vigilance is necessary. A case of JN.1 was reported in Delhi in January 2024, but 257 new cases and two deaths in the last two days have raised concerns. The good thing is that a large population of India has been vaccinated, and immunity has improved due to exposure to Omicron earlier. Therefore, its effect is not yet seen to be serious.

What do experts say?

According to an expert from AIIMS Delhi, this new variant is related to sub-variants like LF.7 and NB.1.8 of Omicron. However, its symptoms have been mild so far. He says that it emerges like seasonal influenza every year and then goes away. Many patients are coming to his OPD complaining of sore throat, cold, flu and fever, but in most cases, influenza-B infection has been found, not corona.

What should be done?

Avoid crowds

Wear a mask

Wash hands regularly or use sanitizer

Isolate immediately if symptoms appear

Elderly and those with low immunity should be cautious

Elderly and those with weak immunity should be cautious

The new variant can affect people of all ages, but reports coming from Hong Kong and Thailand suggest that the highest number of deaths have been recorded in the elderly. Those who have not been able to take the booster dose are also at greater risk.

Can lockdown be imposed again?

According to experts, strict restrictions like lockdown are not needed at the moment, but vigilance is very important. This virus is not posing a serious threat to those who have taken the vaccine and booster dose.