Is the new COVID variant JN.1 ‘more transmissible’? What you need to know per the CDC
JN.1, one of many COVID-19 variants, is projected to account for approximately 39-50% of circulating variants in the United States as of Dec. 2023, according to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention tracking.
That’s an increase from the projection two weeks ago of 15-29%. JN.1, first detected in the U.S. in September, is currently the fastest-growing variant in the country.
“The proportion of JN.1 continues to increase more rapidly than other variants,” the CDC said. “Based on laboratory data, existing vaccines, tests, and treatments work against JN.1.”
JN.1 is causing an increasing share of infections and is now the most widely circulating variant in the United States. The spread of JN.1, however, does not seem to pose additional risks to public health beyond that of other recent variants, the CDC says.
There is no indication of increased severity from JN.1, but the rapid growth of JN.1 compared with other variants raises the question of whether it might drive an incremental increase in infections.
What to know about JN.1
JN.1 is a closely related offshoot of the variant BA.2.86 that the CDC has been tracking since August. The new variant has an additional mutation in the spike protein. The CDC has been tracking JN.1 for months, since it first split from its parent BA.2.86.
According to the CDC, it continues to grow quickly compared with other variants, which suggests that it is either more transmissible or better at evading our immune systems. But it’s too early to know whether JN.1 will cause an increase in infections or hospitalizations.
“At this time, there is no evidence that JN.1 presents an increased risk to public health relative to other currently circulating variants, and CDC is closely monitoring COVID-19 activity and JN.1 spread,” the CDC said in a December news release.
The CDC says it will continue to track JN.1 and other emerging variants.
Symptoms of JN.1
According to the CDC, it is not currently known whether JN.1 infection produces different symptoms from other variants. Generally, symptoms of COVID-19 tend to be similar across variants.
“The types of symptoms and how severe they are usually depend more on a person’s immunity and overall health rather than which variant causes the infection,” the CDC says.
Possible symptoms include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Protection against JN.1
The variant doesn’t change how we can protect ourselves against COVID. It does not alter CDC’s COVID-19 recommendations, so existing vaccines, tests and treatments continue to work well against JN.1.
“The updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccines produce antibodies that protect against JN.1,” the CDC says.
The CDC suggests getting an updated COVID-19 vaccine if you haven’t already had one this fall. That’s because infections are likely to increase in the coming weeks, as they tend to do this time of year regardless of variant. COVID-19 has had a pattern of peaking in late summer, and then again peaking around the new year.
Here are steps you can take to protect yourself from severe illness:
- Get your updated COVID-19 vaccine.
- Help reduce the spread of COVID-19 including by testing for COVID-19, wearing masks and increasing space and distancing.
- Prevent the spread by improving your indoor air. You can do so by using a portable air cleaner or opening windows. If your home thermostat offers a FAN option, turn it from AUTO to ON when you have visitors to keep air running continuously.
- Take a test if you develop respiratory symptoms or are exposed to someone who has COVID-19.
- Talk to a healthcare provider about treatment if you test positive and are at higher risk for severe effects of COVID-19.
