Everything You Need to Know About JN.1, the Latest COVID Variant Surging in the U.S.
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Winter is officially here and, with that, plenty of people are gathering together indoors. Unfortunately, it’s also respiratory virus season—and a time when COVID-19 cases are on the uptick. This time, the latest variant getting buzz is JN.1, which is now the second most common strain in the U.S., according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
JN.1 has quickly spread across the country, starting as a tiny blip on the radar in mid-November and now causing more than 21% of COVID-19 cases. In fact, JN.1 is the dominant COVID-19 strain in the U.S., and experts expect it will soon be the most common form of the virus. “It’s been growing on an exponential curve,” says Thomas Russo, M.D., professor and chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo in New York. “I have no doubt it will continue to increase and drive this winter wave we’re seeing now.”
So what is JN.1 and why is it getting attention right now? Here’s everything you need to know about the latest variant.
Meet the experts: Thomas Russo, M.D., is a professor and chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo in New York; Amesh Adalja, M.D., is an infectious disease expert and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security; William Schaffner, M.D., is a professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
What is JN.1?
JN.1 is a COVID-19 variant that descended from BA.2.86, explains infectious disease expert Amesh Adalja, M.D., a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. JN.1 is “another Omicron variant,” he says.
“BA.2.86 has more than 20 mutations on the spike protein and there was a concern when it was first detected a while back that, wow, this might be a real problem,” Dr. Russo says.
JN.1 has an additional mutation on its spike protein from BA.2.86, which is what SARS-CoV-2 uses to latch onto your cells and make you sick, Dr. Russo says.
JN.1 symptoms
As of now, there’s no data to suggest that JN.1 causes different symptoms than previous COVID-19 variations, says William Schaffner, M.D., a professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. “It’s an Omicron variant and looks to be similar,” he says. In case you need a refresher, the CDC says those symptoms may include:
Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Is JN.1 more transmissible?
It’s looking to be pretty contagious. “There is some data that suggest JN.1’s parent BA.2.86 may be more transmissible than previous variants,” Dr. Russo says. “Since JN.1 is a derivative of BA.2.86, there is a concern that it may be more transmissible.”
Given how fast JN.1 has spread, Dr. Russo says this is definitely a variant to keep your eye on. “There’s some inferential data from lab findings that JN.1 may be more infectious,” he says.
Should we be worried about JN.1?
JN.1 is spreading in a lot of places, including in the U.S. “JN.1 has been described in a number of countries, including the U.S., Iceland, Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands,” Dr. Russo says. “It’s also increasing in frequency in France—it seems to be taking off.”
JN.1 also has a mutation on its spike protein that “seems to make it much more immune evasive than its parents,” Dr. Russo says, adding that the variant is “quite devious.”
JN.1, like BA.2.86, is different from other strains, too, Dr. Russo says. “As a result, we may be at risk of getting more infections,” he says.
But Dr. Russo says there’s no need to panic. “We don’t think it causes more severe disease than other variants,” he says. Dr. Adalja agrees that this is nothing to freak out about. “Due to the level of immunity in the population and variant-agnostic therapies like Paxlovid, the risk that a variant significantly changes the status of COVID in the country has become very low,” he says.
Are the COVID-19 vaccine and treatments effective against JN.1?
It seems to be the case. The CDC notes that the spike protein is the part of the virus that vaccines target and, as a result, the updated COVID-19 vaccine should work against JN.1. The CDC also points out that existing data show that the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccines help our immune systems block BA.2.86. “We expect JN.1 will be similar,” the CDC says.
“The updated vaccine is closer to JN.1 than our old vaccine,” Dr. Russo says. “The hope is that, even if we see more cases with JN.1, the updated vaccine will protect against severe disease.”
As for antivirals, Paxlovid and molnupiravir “are predicted to work” against JN.1, Dr. Russo says.
How to protect against JN.1 and other variants
JN.1 and other COVID-19 variants are out there and will continue to swirl around, Dr. Adalja says. “This is an endemic respiratory virus,” he says. “It is one of the viruses that humans will always deal with.”
But Dr. Schaffner says there are things you can do to lower your risk of getting sick. “Please take advantage of” the updated COVID booster, he says. “Its acceptance has been so dismal across the country. We in public health and infectious diseases are very concerned about that.”
If you’re considered high risk for COVID-19 complications, Dr. Schaffner says it’s time to consider wearing a mask again. “If you’re going to the supermarket, religious services, a concert…whenever you’re in public indoor spaces with other people, put that mask back on,” he says.
And, if you happen to get COVID-19, contact your doctor to see if you qualify for an antiviral medication. “The key thing is to make sure that high-risk individuals are protected with updated vaccines and are quickly prescribed an antiviral if they become infected,” Dr. Adalja says. Dr. Russo agrees. “Certainly, if you’re in a high-risk group, we strongly consider treatment to decrease the likelihood of severe disease if you become infected,” he says.
This article is accurate as of press time. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly evolves and the scientific community’s understanding of the novel coronavirus develops, some of the information may have changed since it was last updated. While we aim to keep all of our stories up to date, please visit online resources provided by the CDC, WHO, and your local public health department to stay informed on the latest news. Always talk to your doctor for professional medical advice.
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