JN.1 Variant Emerges in Kerala: Health Ministry Directs States to Intensify Testing and Surveillance

New Delhi, December 18: In response to the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in certain states and the detection of the JN.1 sub-variant of Omicron in Kerala, the Union Health Ministry issued a advisory to all states on Monday. Health Secretary Sudhansh Pant stressed the importance of maintaining constant vigilance over the Covid-19 situation in the country.

Acknowledging the collaborative efforts between the Centre and State Governments in sustaining low infection rates, Pant emphasized the necessity of sustaining momentum to effectively address public health challenges. India reported 1,828 Covid-19 cases on Monday, with Kerala accounting for the highest number at 1,634.

With the approaching festive season, the Health Secretary advised states to implement necessary public health measures to minimize the risk of increased disease transmission. States were urged to adhere to respiratory hygiene practices and ensure adequate testing in all districts according to Covid testing guidelines. Monitoring and reporting of Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases in health facilities were also recommended to detect early rising trends.

Furthermore, states were encouraged to increase the number of RT-PCR tests and send positive samples for genome sequencing to Indian SARS COV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) laboratories to facilitate the timely identification of new variants.

The JN.1 sub-lineage is part of the BA.2.86 Omicron variant and was initially identified in Luxembourg in August. It contains an additional spike mutation (L455S) with immune-evasion properties. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has emphasized the importance of strong surveillance and sequence sharing, particularly as cases of various sublineages, including XBB and JN.1, continue to rise globally.