Amid spike in Covid-19 cases and JN.1 concerns, Union govt asks states, UTs to increase testing

“However, as the Covid-19 virus continues to circulate and its epidemiology behaviour gets settled with Indian weather conditions and circulation of other usual pathogens, it is important to keep the momentum going to effectively deal with the challenges in public health,” the advisory said.

Related: Masks a must for Karnataka senior citizens, people with comorbidities

Emphasis on public health measures during festivities

Acknowledging the increased risk of transmission during festive gatherings, the advisory stressed the need for stringent public health measures. The health ministry highlighted the importance of maintaining respiratory hygiene and other necessary precautions to mitigate the spread of the virus.

Recent data showed increased Covid-19 infections, with 260 new reported cases, taking the active case count to 1,828. Also, the deaths in Kerala and the finding of JN.1 added to the concern, prompting the Centre to send the guidelines to the states.

As per the advisory, the states should:

• Robust public health protocols: States are advised to implement robust public health measures, especially in the light of the upcoming celebrations.
• Enhanced surveillance and reporting: Healthcare facilities are directed to intensively monitor and report cases of Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI). These reports should be regularly updated in the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) for early detection of rising trends.
• Adherence to testing guidelines: States are urged to ensure adequate Covid-19 testing in compliance with national guidelines, maintaining a balance between RT-PCR and antigen tests.
• Genome sequencing of positive cases: The states should increase RT-PCR testing and send positive samples for genome sequencing to INSACOG laboratories, facilitating the early identification of new variants.

Related: Kerala municipality restricts public gatherings after Covid death

What we know about JN.1

Meanwhile, the letter also detailed facts about the JN.1 subvariant, responsible for the spike.

The variant has been reported in the USA, China, Singapore, and Kerala, India. The letter explained that JN.1 (BA.2.86.1.1) emerged in late 2023 and is a descendant of the BA.2.86 lineage (Pirola) of SARS-CoV2.

The BA.2.86 lineage, first identified in August 2023, is phylogenetically distinct from the circulating SARS-CoV-2 Omicron XBB lineages, including EG.5.1 and HK.3.

BA.2.86 carries more than 30 mutations in the spike (5) protein, indicating a high potential for immune evasion.

The JN.1 variant has been reported in the USA, China, Singapore and India. Seven cases of the subvariant have been reported from China.

However, more genetic sequencing data is required to confirm its presence in other countries.

It is not currently known whether the JN.1 infection produces symptoms different from other variants.

In general, Covid-19 symptoms tend to be similar across variants.

There is also no indication of increased severity from JN.1.

Now, there is no evidence that JN.1 presents an increased risk to public health compared to other currently circulating variants.

The existing treatment line for Covid-19 is expected to be effective against JN.1 infection and updated vaccines are expected to increase protection against the variant.