ISLAMABAD: As the number of cases of Covid-19’s JN.1 variant increased to 15, the federal health has said all authorities are “fully alert” and monitoring the situation.

On Tuesday, the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) confirmed 15 cases of the new Covid-19 variant, which is resulting in the virus’ resurgence across the world. It has spread to over 60 countries.

While quoting the caretaker Health Minister Dr Nadeem Jan, the ministry’s spokesperson, Sajid Shah, said the situation was “being monitored strictly, with border health services, national and provincial health authorities, and labs fully functional and alert”.

Classified as a variant of interest (VOI) by the World Health Organisation (WHO), JN.1 is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant and is more transmissible than other circulating variants.

Health minister says centre, provinces are in contact for preventive measures

The spokesperson added that an “effective screening system” was in place at all entry and exit points of international airports in the country.

“The health ministry was in contact with the provinces to ensure all necessary steps are being taken to protect the public.”

Talking about the cases, Mr Shah added that eight of the reported cases were detected by the lab at the NIH, five by Karachi’s Aga Khan University Hospital and two by Karachi’s Dow University of Health Sciences.

Meanwhile, The NIH and the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) have issued advisories regarding the new sub-variant to ensure timely preventive and control measures.

As per the advisory, the JN.1 has been classified as a VOI by the WHO with genetic changes predicted or known to affect virus characteristics such as transmissibility, disease severity, immune escape, and diagnostic or therapeutic escape.

NIH officials said the advisory has been issued to alert and facilitate the health authorities and other stakeholders for timely preventive and control measures and ensure preparedness to deal with increased patient influx during the next few weeks.

Screening at international borders was increased at the beginning of January, while the federal government had also decided to procure 500,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine.

Sindh’s health department has planned to set up a task force soon to tackle the emerging threat from JN.1, while Peshawar’s district health authorities have been directed to enhance screening of influenza-like illnesses and random testing for Covid-19.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2024