The new COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 started a new scare among the masses with growing numbers of cases all around the world. The scare was so much that in some parts of the world, people were reminded of old pandemic days.&nbsp;

The latest figures from England’s current Covid wave show that people are less likely to fall&nbsp;too sick to be hospitalised, as compared to previous waves.&nbsp;

It means people who are infected by COVID-19 recently have less to worry about than at any other time during the pandemic, Paul Hunter at the University of East Anglia in the UK told the NewScientist.

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<h2>JN.1 variant might be the mildest form of Covid-19&nbsp;</h2>

JN.1 subvariant which was first detected in August in Luxembourg was another version of the deadly Omicron variant. It then spread across many European countries quickly and by November it became quite evident by genetic sequencing that JN.1 was rapidly taking over.&nbsp;

These observations led to concerns over JN.1 that it might start a new Covid wave that would be even deadlier than the previous ones. At this time, hospitals in Europe have already been facing a high turnout of patients with seasonal respiratory viruses. This encouraged hospitals in Europe to take preventive measures way before it was established whether JN.1 is as deadly as Omicron.

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Fortunately, data later suggested that the fear of a bigger wave because of JN.1 variant is not true.&nbsp;

<h2>Some numbers to prove&nbsp;</h2>

To put things into perspective, the number of Covid-19 infected people in England amid the current wave seems to have peaked in late December, at about 4.5 per cent of the population, as per a large, regular survey by the Office for National Statistics and the UK Health Security Agency. This is similar to that seen during the Covid-19 wave that peaked in December 2022.

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Yet the number of Covid-19 infected people being admitted to hospitals in England seems to have peaked this winter at just over a third of the equivalent figure from 2022. The number was 3300 a year ago in early January, while during the same time in 2024, only 1300 people were hospitalised.&nbsp;

It is unclear whether the fall in severity is because JN.1 is milder than other variants or if people just have more immunity to Covid-19 now due to past infections and vaccinations, “I think immunity is probably playing a big role, but it may be that the latest variant is also less virulent,” says Hunter.

(With inputs from agencies)

The new COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 started a new scare among the masses with growing numbers of cases all around the world. The scare was so much that in some parts of the world, people were reminded of old pandemic days.

The new COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 started a new scare among the masses with growing numbers of cases all around the world. The scare was so much that in some parts of the world, people were reminded of old pandemic days. The latest figures from England’s current Covid wave show that people are less likely to fall too sick to be hospitalised, as compared to previous waves. It means people who are infected by COVID-19 recently have less to worry about than at any other time during the pandemic, Paul Hunter at the University of East Anglia in the UK told the NewScientist. Also Read | Hot springs served as catalyst for life on Earth billions of years ago, study finds JN.1 variant might be the mildest form of Covid-19 JN.1 subvariant which was first detected in August in Luxembourg was another version of the deadly Omicron variant. It then spread across many European countries quickly and by November it became quite evident by genetic sequencing that JN.1 was rapidly taking over. These observations led to concerns over JN.1 that it might start a new Covid wave that would be even deadlier than the previous ones. At this time, hospitals in Europe have already been facing a high turnout of patients with seasonal respiratory viruses. This encouraged hospitals in Europe to take preventive measures way before it was established whether JN.1 is as deadly as Omicron. Also Read | An eruption over 520,000 years ago shows South Aegean Volcanic Arc was far more dangerous Fortunately, data later suggested that the fear of a bigger wave because of JN.1 variant is not true. Some numbers to prove To put things into perspective, the number of Covid-19 infected people in England amid the current wave seems to have peaked in late December, at about 4.5 per cent of the population, as per a large, regular survey by the Office for National Statistics and the UK Health Security Agency. This is similar to that seen during the Covid-19 wave that peaked in December 2022. Also Read | Many US cities could empty out by 2100, become 'ghost cities' due to population drop: Study Yet the number of Covid-19 infected people being admitted to hospitals in England seems to have peaked this winter at just over a third of the equivalent figure from 2022. The number was 3300 a year ago in early January, while during the same time in 2024, only 1300 people were hospitalised. It is unclear whether the fall in severity is because JN.1 is milder than other variants or if people just have more immunity to Covid-19 now due to past infections and vaccinations, “I think immunity is probably playing a big role, but it may be that the latest variant is also less virulent,” says Hunter. (With inputs from agencies)

JN.1 Covid sub-variant might be milder than earlier thought, experts say

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the US health authorities said on Friday (August 18) that there were closely monitoring a new variant of Covid. The WHO has classified the new variant BA.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the US health authorities said on Friday (August 18) that there were closely monitoring a new variant of Covid. The WHO has classified the new variant BA.2.86 as the one under surveillance because of the large number of spike gene mutations it carries. Till now, the variant has been detected in the US, Israel, Denmark, and the United Kingdom (UK). Sharing a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed it was monitoring the variant. Only 4 known sequences of the variant: WHO According to WHO, there are only four known sequences of the BA.2.86, and the United Nations health agency pointed out that the potential impact of the variant's mutations is presently unknown and undergoing careful assessment. The WHO is monitoring upwards of 10 variants and their descent lineages. On Thursday, the WHO said that only a few sequences of the variant have been reported from a handful of countries. UK detects first case of the variant On Friday, the UK detected the first case of BA.2.86 in a person with no recent travel history. In a statement, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said, "There is currently one confirmed case in the UK in an individual with no recent travel history, which suggests a degree of community transmission within the UK." "The newly identified variant has a high number of mutations and is genomically distant from both its likely ancestor, BA.2, and from currently circulating XBB-derived variants," the statement added. The UKHSA designated the variant as V-23AUG-01 for monitoring. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

WHO, US tracking new Covid variant BA.2.86; cases detected in 4 nations so far

A new coronavirus variant EG.5.1, nicknamed Eris, has been spreading across the United Kingdom and has brought the country's health officers on their toes. 
 
The variant, which has descended from the rapidly spreading Omicron, was first flagged last month in the United Kingdom, reported news agency PTI. 
 
The variant Eris is found in one of the out of the seven new coronavirus cases, said the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). As per the latest data, the cases of the Eris variant now account for 14.6 per cent of all cases, Sky News reported. 
 
"COVID-19 case rates continued to increase this week compared to our previous report. 5.4% of 4,396 respiratory specimens reported through the Respiratory DataMart System were identified as COVID-19. This is compared to 3.7% of 4,403 from the previous report," said the UKHSA, in a report.

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“EG.5.1 was first raised as a signal in monitoring on July 3, 2023, as part of horizon scanning due to increasing reports internationally, particularly in Asia,” it added. 
 
“It was subsequently raised from a signal in monitoring to a variant V-23JUL-01 on July 31, 2023, due to the increasing number of genomes in UK data, and continued growth internationally. Declaring this lineage as a variant will allow further detailed characterisation and analysis,” it added.

<h2>UK is almost ‘flying blind’</h2>

In the wake of increasing coronavirus cases, experts have suggested that the UK is almost “flying blind” in the case of Covid this autumn. 
 
Professor of operational research at University College London, Christina Pagel, while speaking to The Guardian, said that it seems like the onset of a new wave of Covid. She added that with the autumn coming on and people going back to school and work, Covid pressures are likely to increase. 
 
“We might see the wave continue to grow, and grow faster, in September,” she stated. Pagel said that the nationwide infection survey, which was published by the Office for National Statistics for autumn and winter, should be brought back.

WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: US authorities uncover secret 'Covid-19' lab

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“What worries me most is if we get a repeat of the last winter NHS crisis this winter again, with Covid, flu and RSV all hitting around the same time. We are definitely flying near blind,” said Pagel.

An epidemiologist at the University of Edinburgh, Prof Rowland Kao, further emphasised the decline in surveillance. 
 
“With seasonal flu, we have of course a certain amount of predictability with the many years of data. However, with Covid, now that we don’t have those multiple data streams to rely on, it’s harder to say what is happening (in the general population),” he stated.

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A new coronavirus variant EG.5.1, nicknamed Eris, has been spreading across the United Kingdom and has brought the country's health officers on their toes. The variant, which has descended from the rapidly spreading Omicron, was first flagged last month in the United Kingdom, reported news agency PTI.

A new coronavirus variant EG.5.1, nicknamed Eris, has been spreading across the United Kingdom and has brought the country's health officers on their toes. The variant, which has descended from the rapidly spreading Omicron, was first flagged last month in the United Kingdom, reported news agency PTI. The variant Eris is found in one of the out of the seven new coronavirus cases, said the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). As per the latest data, the cases of the Eris variant now account for 14.6 per cent of all cases, Sky News reported. "COVID-19 case rates continued to increase this week compared to our previous report. 5.4% of 4,396 respiratory specimens reported through the Respiratory DataMart System were identified as COVID-19. This is compared to 3.7% of 4,403 from the previous report," said the UKHSA, in a report. ALSO READ | COVID-19: China focuses on new vaccination drive as coronavirus wave looms over nation “EG.5.1 was first raised as a signal in monitoring on July 3, 2023, as part of horizon scanning due to increasing reports internationally, particularly in Asia,” it added. “It was subsequently raised from a signal in monitoring to a variant V-23JUL-01 on July 31, 2023, due to the increasing number of genomes in UK data, and continued growth internationally. Declaring this lineage as a variant will allow further detailed characterisation and analysis,” it added. UK is almost ‘flying blind’ In the wake of increasing coronavirus cases, experts have suggested that the UK is almost “flying blind” in the case of Covid this autumn. Professor of operational research at University College London, Christina Pagel, while speaking to The Guardian, said that it seems like the onset of a new wave of Covid. She added that with the autumn coming on and people going back to school and work, Covid pressures are likely to increase. “We might see the wave continue to grow, and grow faster, in September,” she stated. Pagel said that the nationwide infection survey, which was published by the Office for National Statistics for autumn and winter, should be brought back. WATCH | Gravitas: US authorities uncover secret 'Covid-19' lab “What worries me most is if we get a repeat of the last winter NHS crisis this winter again, with Covid, flu and RSV all hitting around the same time. We are definitely flying near blind,” said Pagel. An epidemiologist at the University of Edinburgh, Prof Rowland Kao, further emphasised the decline in surveillance. “With seasonal flu, we have of course a certain amount of predictability with the many years of data. However, with Covid, now that we don’t have those multiple data streams to rely on, it’s harder to say what is happening (in the general population),” he stated. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Covid variant 'Eris' on rise in UK, as experts say country ‘flying blind’ on infection

The study of patients in London hospitals is consistent with emerging evidence that this lineage is more transmissible than the original COVID-19 strain.

UK Covid variant doesn’t lead to severe illness, death: The Lancet