Just when it felt like the world had finally moved past Covid-19, a fresh wave of concern is rising across parts of Asia. A recent spike in Covid-19 cases has been reported from several countries, sparking fears of a potential comeback — this time with a new variant in the spotlight: JN.1.
Countries like Thailand, Singapore, China, and Hong Kong are seeing noticeable increases in infections. While the numbers are still small compared to the peak pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, the sudden surge is enough to put health officials back on high alert.
Thailand recorded over 33,000 cases in just one week, ending May 17. That’s a big jump and has already pushed authorities to recommend booster doses once again. Singapore isn’t far behind. The country’s health ministry reported a 28% rise in weekly cases, with over 14,000 infections and a 30% increase in hospital admissions. In China, positivity rates have reportedly doubled, now crossing 16%, along with a jump in hospital visits. Even India has seen a slight uptick, with around 250 active cases currently.
The variant behind this new wave, JN.1, isn’t brand new. It’s actually a sub-variant of Omicron and comes from the BA.2.86 strain. The good news? Vaccines already in circulation are still effective against it. And health experts say this version isn’t causing more serious illness than what we've seen before.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified JN.1 as a “variant of interest” — not a “variant of concern.” That means it’s worth watching but not yet something to panic about. WHO also confirmed that the global health risk from this strain remains low for now.
Symptoms of the JN.1 variant are mostly mild. People usually experience a runny nose, sore throat, fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, and sometimes mild tummy issues like nausea or loss of appetite. Most recover in four to five days without needing hospital care.
Health experts believe the recent spike could be due to waning immunity rather than the virus getting stronger. Still, they advise people to stay cautious, keep up with vaccinations, and not ignore flu-like symptoms.
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