New Covid sub-variant JN.1 detected in Bangladesh

Covid JN.1, a highly transmissible sub-variant of the Omicron lineage, was identified in Bangladesh, according to the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b).

icddr,b Director Professor Tahmina Shirin said the sub-variant was detected in 5 samples. These samples were taken from coronavirus patients in Dhaka and outside Dhaka.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared this sub-variant a “variant of interest.” According to them, it is anticipated that JN.1 may cause an increase in coronavirus cases amid a surge of infections of other viral and bacterial infections, especially in countries entering the winter season.

However, the WHO also said that the existing vaccines can provide ample protection from this sub-variant.

/KN/