As people get ready to travel across the country for the holidays, health officials are issuing a word of caution regarding COVID subvariant JN.1, now the fastest-growing strain in the nation.
According to Dr. Kristin Englund of the Cleveland Clinic, the JN.1 variant of COVID-19 possesses a single mutation that enhances its ability to spread more rapidly, especially among individuals who have not received vaccination. However, studies have not indicated that this variant leads to more severe cases of the illness.
Recently, the World Health Organization designated JN.1 as a variant of interest, given its emergence in various countries and its rapidly growing global prevalence. As people get ready
Dr. Englund anticipates a potential increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations due to the JN.1 variant but expresses hope that there won’t be a corresponding rise in the number of fatalities.
Summit County Public Health experts are tracking a dramatic rise in the subvariant and other illnesses. People most at risk for serious complications are the elderly, young and immunocompromised.
“Over the past four weeks, CDC put out there was a 200% increase in influenza hospitalizations, there’s 51% increase in COVID hospitalizations and 60% increase in RSV,” said Medical Director Dr. Erika Sobolewski. “All three of which now can be vaccine preventable.”