New COVID-19 Mutation ‘JN.1’ Poses Threat in Puerto Rico and U.S.

A new mutation of COVID-19 that has accelerated infections in recent weeks in Puerto Rico and the United States keeps health authorities vigilant due to its broad capacity to multiply and circumvent the effects of immunization against the virus.

This is JN.1 – popularly called “Pirola” –, a subvariant descended from another variety of the omicron (BA.2.86) that spreads rapidly, since its numerous mutations seem to allow the virus to evade the protection acquired by vaccines or of natural immunity in newly infected people.

“It is not a variant that has just emerged, but it has been gaining prevalence in Puerto Rico and the United States. It is growing more and more,” warned Dr. Marcos López Casillas, director of the Genomic Surveillance Laboratory of the Public Health Trust (FSP), the entity in charge of this process and reporting cases to the Department of Health.

“It is expected, as has happened in the United States, that it will increase dramatically and become the most dominant (subvariant),” commented the FSP research manager, who highlighted that the first case of JN.1, on the island, it was detected on October 20.

Until December 6, JN.1 represented 16.5% of the genomic surveillance sequencing carried out in Puerto Rico, confirmed, for her part, Dr. Melissa Marzán, main Epidemiology officer of the Department of Health.

According to Marzán, from the profile of processed samples, 73% of the cases were women, while 27.3% were between 20 and 29 years old. This variety of COVID-19 also already has a presence in five regions of the country: Metropolitan, Bayamón, Caguas, Fajardo and Arecibo, he said.

“None (of these cases) have required hospitalization or (has caused) deaths,” emphasized the official, who highlighted that only 23% of these infections had a travel history, which is why this subvariant already circulates at the level of local transmission. .

This week, the World Health Organization (WHO) included JN.1 in its list of “variants of concern,” a classification given to lineages of the virus with the potential to increase transmission or severity of the disease. In these instances, laboratory studies and investigations regarding its transmission are intensified.

“Due to its rapid spread, the WHO is classifying JN.1 as a separate variant of interest from the parental lineage BA.2.86,” the entity reported, although it warned that the level of risk to public health from this subvariant is still “ low”.

But, with the arrival of winter and the expected increase in respiratory conditions for this time, the WHO anticipated an increase in infections caused by JN.1.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the detection of this subvariant of the coronavirus in September, with previous presence in 11 other countries. JN.1 already predominates among cases in the northeastern United States, making up one-third of new infections. Additionally, it is the fastest-growing strain in the United States, with prevalence that has doubled since the end of November.

(Ted S. Warren)

“We are attentive, vigilant to the symptoms and the severity (of the virus),” reiterated Marzán, who highlighted that HV.1, another variety of the omicron, is the one that currently predominates on the island, with 35.9% of the cases sequenced. by the FSP.

Some of the symptoms

Of the COVID-19 cases registered by the Health Department and which the agency has followed up, Marzán reported that 72% manifest nasal congestion as their main symptom. But cough, fatigue, muscle discomfort and headache are other common signs, according to the official, who also specified that less than 1% manifest gastrointestinal symptoms.

The number of people with symptoms has also increased, Marzán commented, highlighting that previously only 25% said they had any clinical manifestation, and now 39% report having symptoms of the virus.

With the increase in travelers in the Christmas season – many of them to destinations in the northeast of the United States – the risk of more infections arising increases, Marzán and López Casillas acknowledged, separately.

“Right now, in Puerto Rico, more cases of COVID are being detected, about 600 a day, than of influenza, which has decreased a little,” said López Casillas.

“This season, there are more crowds, more travel, and not many have their vaccines up to date. This affects more cases,” Marzán highlighted, for his part.

According to data from the Department of Health, the positivity of COVID-19 in Puerto Rico was at 19.06% on Wednesday afternoon, which means a high level of transmission. Last month, it was less than 10%, which is classified as low transmission.

“It is normal that respiratory cases always rise at this time, but we also have to be very aware of COVID. People who get sick, stay at home and get tested,” López Casillas stressed.

Marzán recalled that this is the fourth Christmas season with the presence of the COVID-19 virus. And although he anticipated an increase in infections, he highlighted that, while now 600 cases are reported per day, for the same date last year, 1,800 were recorded daily. Hospitalizations, he added, are also lower than last year.

Call for vaccination

Both López Casillas and Marzán urged the population to get vaccinated against COVID-19, particularly adults aged 65 or older and groups vulnerable to developing complications.

“The greatest danger is that vaccination (against COVID-19) has decreased,” said López Casillas.

Although he highlighted that the composition of JN.1 seems to evade immunity, he insisted that vaccination “works.” “The effectiveness (against the virus) will not be complete because the variants change so quickly, but it is always better to get vaccinated (to avoid complications),” he reiterated.

The CDC issued an alert several days ago urging health care providers to encourage vaccination against circulating respiratory viruses, including COVID-19 and influenza. The alert responded to the apparent low vaccination rate among adults against these diseases. According to data from the federal entity, as of December 9, only 18% of adults had received the latest version of the COVID-19 vaccine.

On Thursday, three additional deaths from COVID-19 were reported, bringing the fatalities associated with this virus to 7,057. Meanwhile, 66 people remained hospitalized, including eight in intensive care units, due to complications associated with this respiratory virus.

“The increase in cases (of COVID-19) is more at the community level, but not of acutely ill people in the hospital,” highlighted Dr. Jorge Santana Bagur.

The infectious disease specialist agreed that the increase in travel at this time, together with the low vaccination rate, crowds and the small number of people wearing masks, are the perfect combination for the increase in the transmission of the virus.

“I hope that what we have seen in previous years is not repeated after December 31 and Three Kings Day, a dramatic increase in cases,” said Santana Bagur.

2023-12-21 23:40:00
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