We expect more JN.1 COVID cases as transmissibility is high: Kerala Health Minister

Kerala can expect to see more JN.1 COVID-19 cases as transmissibility of this variant is more, said state's health minister Veena George on Friday.

She also said the situation currently is "totally under control".

Talking to media on the current COVID-19 situation in Kerala, George said, "We have found a slight increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. There is nothing to worry about."

In the last 24 hours, India logged 328 new cases of COVID-19 of which Kerala alone reported 265 fresh infections and one death due to the respiratory illness.

Why COVID-19 cases may rise in Kerala?

George said Kerala is expected to see more cases of COVID-19 as airport surveillance done in Singapore Airport shows that 19 passengers from India, not only Kerala but different parts, were found with JN.1.

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"We have plan A, B, C ready. There is nothing to worry about. The transmissibility of this variant is more but the severity is less," she added.

COVID-19 tests high in Kerala

The minister said a sample of a 79-year-old woman which was sent for genome sequencing on 18 November was found to be of JN.1. She was in home isolation and now she is alright.

"We have been sending samples from 1 November onwards. Our number of tests is high so naturally, we find more positive cases. However, there has been no increase in ICU occupancy, ventilator occupancy or isolation bed occupancy. Those who died had severe comorbidities; one person had cancer and the other patient had chronic kidney disease, and heart disease. No one had COVID complications," she added.

The JN.1 sub-variant of COVID-19 has been categorised as a "variant of interest" by the World Health Organization, or WHO, and is not of concern yet. Several Indian states have reported cases of the strain.

JN.1 is a new sub-lineage of BA.2.86, an offshoot of the omicron variant and is said to have additional mutations in the spike protein.

This variant has enhanced immune-evasion properties for which it is spreading rapidly, but there are no new or severe symptoms.

JN.1 was first detected in Denmark and Israel in late July 2023. In India, as per experts, the variant has been circulating probably since November.

With inputs from agencies