New Delhi: The World Health Organization (WHO) is calling on countries in the Southeast Asia Region to bolster surveillance efforts and advocate for increased protective measures in response to a surge in respiratory diseases, including influenza and the Covid sub-variant JN.1, according to an official press release.
JN.1 has been classified as a variant of interest by the WHO due to its rapid global spread. Over the past weeks, numerous countries have reported the presence of JN.1, and its prevalence is rapidly increasing on a global scale.
While the available evidence remains limited, the WHO assesses the additional public health risk posed by JN.1 as currently low on a global level. However, there is a concern that this variant may contribute to a rise in COVID-19 cases, particularly amid an upswing in other viral and bacterial infections, especially in countries entering the winter season, as stated in the release.
In a significant shift from May, when WHO declared COVID-19 no longer constituted a public health emergency of international concern due to declining cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, and high levels of population immunity to SARS-CoV-2, the current situation underscores the need for renewed vigilance and proactive measures.
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