Colombo (LNW): A concerning discovery has emerged in Kerala leading to the existence of a JN.1, a sub-variant of COVID-19, which is currently making waves in the US and China, a report by Times of India disclosed.
This revelation stems from the vigilant surveillance conducted by INSACOG (Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium), according to report.
Dr. Rajiv Bahl, the Director-General of ICMR, disclosed that the case was detected in an RT-PCR positive sample from Karakulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on December 8. Remarkably, the sample had initially tested positive on November 18.
The patient experienced mild symptoms of Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) but has since recovered. The Union Health Ministry is actively liaising with state health authorities, closely monitoring the situation at key entry points.
In an assertive move, a comprehensive mock drill is underway across health facilities in various states through district collectors, part of a routine exercise to evaluate their public health and hospital preparedness. This initiative is set to conclude by December 18.
Notably, Kerala has witnessed a surge in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, attributed to an upswing in the number of samples from ILI cases referred for testing.
While most cases are clinically mild and recuperating at home, the global COVID-19 landscape has seen a marginal uptick in early December, as indicated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) dashboard.
