Ho Chi Minh City's infectious disease surveillance system has detected the emergence of sub-variant JN.1 of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in hospitalised patients in December last year in the locality, Deputy Director of the municipal Centre for Disease Control (HCDC) Le Hong Nga said at a press briefing held on January 25.

JN.1 is a sub-variant from the BA.2.86 variant of Omicron classified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a "variant of Interest” (VOI).

According to Nga, the surge of the JN.1 sub-variant in some countries shows that it is either more transmissible or better at evading the immune system. However, there is no evidence that JN.1 poses greater risk to public health compared to other variants, she said, citing WHO's conclusion.  In general, when it comes to COVID-19, symptoms tend to be similar across variants, she said, adding that symptoms and severity of COVID-19 often depend largely on each person's immunity and health status.

To prevent the pandemic and protect public health, the city Department of Health has assigned the HCDC to closely monitor the development of COVID-19 including number of hospital admissions, number of severe cases and deaths, maintain activities to protect people in risk groups in the context of the emergence of the JN.1 sub-variant.

Residents are urged to take measures to protect themselves, such as regularly washing their hands, keeping fit and wearing face masks in crowded places.

People, especially those in at-risk groups, are recommended to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and other vaccines such as Pneumococcus and respiratory infection./.VNA