Is It True That The COVID-19 Virus Sub Variant JN.1 Is More Powerful Than Omicron?

The coronavirus has continued to develop since it was first discovered in Wuhan City, China, in December 2019. (Pixabay)

The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) confirmed the findings of the JN.1 variant of COVID-19 in Indonesia. As a fairly new variant, there is an assumption that the JN.1 variant is more terrible than other variants.

The findings of the JN.1 variant were confirmed by the Director General of Disease Prevention and Control at the Ministry of Health, Maxi Rein Rondonuwu. Maxi said this variant was found in South Jakarta, East Jakarta, and Batam, Riau Islands.

According to the latest news from the Ministry of Health, two COVID-19 patients infected with the Omicron JN.1 and XBB.2.3.10.1 (GE.1) Subvariants in Batam died.

"The results are based on an update on the verification report on the COVID-19 death case from the Batam Community Health Laboratory (BTKL)," said Head of the Communication and Public Service Bureau of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, quoted by Antara.

Since it was first detected in the city of Wuhan, China, in December 2019, the COVID-19 virus has continued to change, allowing new variants to spread faster and more effectively. Recently, the JN.1 variant has emerged which is said to have caused an increase in COVID-19 cases in various countries.

The JN.1 variant was first detected in the United States (US) in September 2023. Although at the beginning the spread of the JN.1 variant was relatively slow, in recent weeks it has become a contributor to almost half of the new cases of COVID-19 in the country, based on information from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention /CDC).

Citing Care, the JN.1 variant of the COVID-19 virus has similarities to other Omicron variants, namely BA.2.86. The cold rainy season and high mobilization at the end of the year make this new variant predicted to spread more quickly.

However, dr. Sean Edbert Lim said the JN.1 variant cannot be said to be more dangerous than other variants, including Omicron. However, dr. Sean emphasized the difference between the JN.1 and Omicron variants which causes this new variant to become more contagious.

Varian JN.1 is a sub-variant of Omicron. As is well known, the virus will continue to evolve day by day, so it cannot be said to be more powerful than Omicron," said dr. Sean to VOI.

"The main difference between the JN.1 variant is having a different Spike protein (paku) than Omicron, causing the JN.1 variant to stick more easily so that the spread is faster," he added.

This is in line with what the World Health Organization (WHO) said, which considers the JN.1 variant will not pose a more serious public health risk than other variants. According to WHO, this variant does not make people more sick or make them more often hospitalized.

Although WHO also said the JN.1 variant was faster and easier to spread than the Omicron variant, dr. Sean doesn't see any more pandemic possibilities like in 2020.

"Most likely it won't be like the previous 2020 pandemic, because although the spread is quite fast, the symptoms and recovery time are also faster," explained the doctor who is familiarly called dr. This sadness.

"In addition, the Indonesian people are also generally vaccinated so that the body is better prepared to fight the virus," he said.

Citing Care, the symptoms of the JN.1 variant of COVID-19 are not much different from the previous variant. Meanwhile, the severity that arises will also depend on immunity and overall health conditions.

"The current known symptoms of the JN.1 variant of COVID-19 are similar to other variants, including fever, chills, fatigue, cough, muscle aches, shortness of breath and sore throat," said AI Care.

Like other variants, to prevent transmission of the JN.1 variant also needs to be done in several ways, whose outline is to re-implement health protocols, as stated by dr. Sean Edbert Lim.

"For the prevention of the JN.1 variant, it is the same as COVID-19, namely maintaining personal hygiene by washing hands and wearing masks, avoiding crowds and closed places with minimal ventilation," he said.

In addition, it is also necessary to vaccinate if you have not and avoid traveling abroad, where the JN.1 variant is rife, dr. Sean ends.