'JN.1 Variant Not Fatal But...': Ex-AIIMS Chief Randeep Guleria On Rising Covid-19 Cases

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Last Updated:May 28, 2025, 15:03 IST

Dr Guleria said COVID-19 vaccines support against the JN.1 variant, though not afloat owed to its mutations. They inactive little the hazard of terrible illness, hospitalisation and death

Dr Guleria said that changeless mutations successful the microorganism whitethorn alteration the effectiveness of older vaccines. (X/@AIIMS_bilaspur)

Several countries, including India, are witnessing a caller surge successful COVID-19 cases, sparking renewed nationalist concern. After a play of comparative decline, infections are erstwhile again connected the rise—driven by emerging variants.

Amid this uptick, Dr. Randeep Guleria, erstwhile manager of AIIMS Delhi, has weighed successful connected the situation, offering insights and proposal connected however to enactment safe. Speaking to a backstage quality channel, Dr. Guleria explained that the summation successful COVID-19 cases is chiefly owed to the JN.1 variant, archetypal identified successful August 2023.

This variant, a sub-variant of the Omicron lineage, is spreading rapidly owed to mutations successful the spike protein, enabling it to evade the immune system. Dr. Guleria shared that portion the JN.1 variant is not highly fatal and mostly causes mild symptoms specified arsenic fever, cough, sore throat, cold, and runny nose, it tin beryllium much unsafe for the elderly, individuals with comorbidities similar diabetes oregon bosom disease, and those with weakened immune systems. Dr. Guleria emphasised that these susceptible groups should adhere strictly to COVID-19 protocols to debar infection.

The concern successful India remains nether control, but ongoing surveillance of the caller variant is necessary, helium said adding that preparations should beryllium made to grip immoderate imaginable escalation.

The erstwhile AIIMS manager said existent information suggests that COVID-19 vaccines connection extortion against the JN.1 variant, though they whitethorn not afloat forestall corruption owed to its mutations. Vaccines assistance trim the severity of the unwellness and the hazard of hospitalisation oregon death. However, the changeless mutations successful the microorganism whitethorn alteration the effectiveness of older vaccines, helium cautioned.

Dr. Guleria advised that determination is nary request for fearfulness oregon panic astatine this stage, but caution is essential. He recommended avoiding crowded places, wearing masks erstwhile outside, practising societal distancing, and maintaining manus hygiene. So far, determination has not been a important summation successful hospitalisations oregon deaths owed to the JN.1 variant, which is simply a affirmative sign. Nonetheless, changeless monitoring is crucial, particularly successful areas with precocious lawsuit numbers oregon constricted wellness resources.

According to experts, radical with superior wellness conditions should instrumentality other precautions to debar COVID-19. In summation to vaccines, assorted antiviral medications are present available, which tin assistance dainty COVID-19 and trim the severity of symptoms, they said.

These drugs person proven effectual against the microorganism and person contributed to little mortality rates compared to the aboriginal stages of the pandemic, they said adding that antiviral medications are peculiarly beneficial for high-risk patients, aiding successful their recovery.

Experts person advised that since COVID-19 symptoms often lucifer those of different infections, anyone experiencing a cough, cold, oregon fever should see getting tested.

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