HCMC: Many cases of Covid-19 variant JN.1

Many Covid-19 cases in Ho Chi Minh City detected with JN.1 variant

Recently, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health said that through the results of gene sequencing conducted by the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases and the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) from samples of 16 SARS-CoV-2 positive patients treated in December 2023, the locality recorded 12 cases (75%) infected with the sub-variant of Omicron JN.1.

In addition, there was 1 case of the JN.1.1 variant, 2 cases of BA.2.86.1 and 1 case of the XDD variant. Worryingly, the number of Covid-19 cases hospitalized at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases has been increasing gradually in the past six weeks. Thus, the JN.1 sub-variant has appeared in Ho Chi Minh City, after the US CDC reported that this was the fastest growing and dominant variant in the US in December 2023.

JN.1 was classified as a "variant of concern" by the World Health Organization (WHO) on December 18, 2023. According to WHO, JN.1 has new antigenic characteristics that allow the virus to easily attack the immune system and is more transmissible. Therefore, this variant has quickly become dominant among SARS-CoV-2 variants causing disease globally.

The process of detecting new variants of SARS-CoV-2 carried out by the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases and OUCRU in December 2023 (Photo: SYT).

However, there is no evidence that this variant causes more severe illness than other sub-variants of Omicron. However, the fact that the "variant of concern" has appeared in many Covid-19 patients in Ho Chi Minh City has also caused many concerns, in the context of the Lunar New Year approaching.

Responding to the above concerns, Dr. Nguyen Vu Thuong, Deputy Director of the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, said that the JN.1 variant was first reported in August 2023 and is a direct branch of BA.2.86.

Since December 2023, JN.1 has rapidly surpassed a series of other variants to become dominant (from 24.8% in week 48/2023 to 65.5% in week 52/2023 of the total number of variants reported worldwide) and has been present in 71 countries/territories. This variant is expected to continue to dominate in the coming time.

Recent studies worldwide show that the JN.1 variant continues to inherit the characteristics of BA.2.86, possibly with greater affinity for lower respiratory tract cells. However, scientists have not seen any major differences in clinical, immunological, and diagnostic detection of JN.1 compared to previous variants.

Current vaccines remain an effective tool to control Covid-19 and still protect vaccinated people from severe disease.

People go to Covid-19 vaccination sites for booster shots (Photo: SYT).

According to the Ministry of Health, Vietnam has completed the basic vaccination program for people aged 12 and above, with more than 266 million doses of vaccine administered nationwide. However, there are still some people who have not been vaccinated or have not received enough doses.

Dr. Thuong shared that those who have not been vaccinated or have not received enough doses, especially high-risk groups (underlying diseases, the elderly, pregnant women, etc.) should go to medical facilities to get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect their own health and the community's.

How does the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City respond to epidemics during Tet?

In response to the question of how the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City is preparing to prevent the epidemic when the JN.1 variant has appeared, Mr. Thuong said that since the beginning of 2024, the Ministry of Health has had close instructions on disease prevention. In particular, the Ministry emphasized monitoring, early detection, and immediate control of diseases that may arise during the Lunar New Year and the 2024 festival season.

As the unit responsible for epidemic prevention in 20 provinces and cities in the Southern region, the Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh City closely coordinates with the final hospitals of Ho Chi Minh City in directing the line, assessing and forecasting the epidemic situation, and always coordinating with units in monitoring activities and responding to local support.

During the Lunar New Year, local Centers for Disease Control and the Institute have arranged for rapid response teams to be on duty, closely monitor the epidemic situation, and be ready to coordinate responses if necessary.

Dr. Nguyen Vu Thuong, Deputy Director, Pasteur Institute, Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: DH).

In order for the whole population to have a happy, healthy and safe spring, the leader of the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City affirmed that each individual needs to follow the disease prevention instructions according to the recommendations of the health sector on getting the right and sufficient doses of vaccines.

When there are signs of flu syndrome (fever, cough, sore throat, muscle and joint pain, etc.), you need to go to a medical facility to be diagnosed, instructed, cared for, and treated effectively by a doctor. People should limit contact if they suspect they are infected with Covid-19, and avoid contact with sick people.

"It is necessary to ensure ventilation in the house, wear masks in crowded places, and wash hands regularly with soap or antiseptic solution when necessary. These actions not only prevent Covid-19 but also help prevent many other respiratory diseases," said Mr. Thuong.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/tphcm-nhieu-ca-mac-covid-19-bien-the-jn1-20240129100024450.htm