Corona showing work... Will Indian vaccines work? What is JN-1? What does 'Woo' mean?
Corona showing work.. Will Indian vaccines work? What is JN-1? What does 'WHO' mean?
While there has been no news related to the coronavirus for the past few months, a new type of coronavirus is currently spreading in some parts of Asia, including Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand.
In particular, the Omicron BA.2.86 sub-variant, known as JN-1, is spreading very rapidly. This raises the question of whether vaccines that people have already received against the new type of coronavirus will be effective.
The coronavirus, which spread from China in 2019, caused severe health and economic damage around the world. Millions of people lost their lives due to the coronavirus.
The coronavirus was brought under control due to continuous high-quality medical care and vaccination. In the meantime, the coronavirus mutated and spread among people as new variants. However, for several months, no information about the coronavirus outbreak has been received globally.
Corona spread:
In this situation, the spread of corona has suddenly emerged again in some parts of Asia. As the new coronavirus variant is spreading in Singapore, Hong Kong, China, and Thailand, the number of infected people is also increasing. The medical world is shocked by the rapid spread of the Omicron BA.2.86 sub-variant, also known as JN.1.
Singapore Corona:
Singapore alone has reported more than 14,000 new infections in early May, up from 11,100 at the end of April. While hospital admissions have increased, the number of people admitted to intensive care units has declined slightly, providing some comfort.
Although it is not yet confirmed whether the current corona variants are more contagious than the previous ones, medical experts say that the new corona wave is due to a decrease in immunity.
JN-1 Corona:
In this situation, medical experts from various countries are also studying the new JN-1 Corona variant. They say that it is a continuation of the BA.2.86 virus. It is worth noting that the World Health Organization declared this virus as a Variant of Interest a few weeks ago. The JN-1 virus has received 30 additional changes from the BA.2.86 virus, and it is said that it spreads rapidly beyond the human immune system.
Corona in India:
It is said that the spread of corona infection is not large in India at present. According to the information provided by the Indian Health Ministry, there are only 93 corona patients in India as of May 19, 2025. While infections are increasing at a small rate in Mumbai, only the young are easily affected. But it is said that there are no symptoms of a large-scale corona wave.
Corona Symptoms:
Due to the JN1 virus, symptoms like fever, sore throat, stuffy nose, headache, body aches, sudden fatigue, vomiting, and diarrhea are usually caused by previous corona infections. For some, it can cause severe fatigue. Shortness of breath is a symptom to watch out for. Health experts advise that if this occurs, you should consult a doctor immediately.
Vaccines:
Currently, the vaccine XBB.1.5 Monovalent Booster is being used worldwide to protect against the Omicron sub-variant virus known as XBB.1.5. This vaccine provides 19% to 49% protection against the JN.1 variant. Currently, only the XBB.1.5 Monovalent Covovax Booster is available in India.
Caution is needed:
While companies like Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Novavax, and Zapomeran in other countries are offering vaccines against several coronavirus variants, including JN-1, studies have shown that these vaccines work well. Since the JN.1 variant is completely new, researchers are continuing to monitor the safety of the vaccines.
As the number of coronavirus cases in neighboring countries continues to rise, the public in India should remain vigilant. Health officials say it is important to follow basic safety measures such as washing hands frequently, wearing masks, and getting vaccinated.
