It’s been almost four years since the original strain of COVID-19 mutated, taking its tour through the Greek alphabet.
Now, there’s a new dominant strain: JN.1.
The Progression of JN1
The new strain is fueling a spike in cases in the U.S., where it accounts for about 60% of all infections. That number is even higher in Boise, where testing shows that 77% of the COVID virus found in wastewater is the JN.1 strain.
With holiday gatherings and cold weather driving people indoors, JN.1 is perfectly aligned with peak respiratory virus season. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, national hospital admissions for COVID were up 20% in the last week of December.
In Ada County, hospitalizations were up by half the national average, which is still a large increase.
What’s special about this strain?
- So far, it looks like JN.1 causes similarly severe infections compared to other variants — no better, no worse.
- However, it has a spike protein mutation that helps it avoid antibody detection, which has likely contributed to its rapid spread, according to Yale Medicine.
- Part of what makes new strains dangerous is our lack of knowledge about them, but more research will be coming out about JN.1 regularly.
Vaccines & Testing
Even with its spike protein mutation, tests, treatments, and vaccines all seem to work with the new strain. “The JN.1 variant doesn’t change how we can protect ourselves and our communities,” the CDC wrote in December.
Get vaccinated now if it’s time for a new booster, per the Department of Health and Welfare’s site. Less than a third of Ada County residents have received a primary vaccine series and a booster.
Test for JN.1 if you have a known contact with someone who’s been infected, or if you have any of the common COVID symptoms: sore throat, congestion, fatigue, muscle aches, fever, loss of taste and/or smell, cough.
If you haven’t already taken advantage of it, the federal government began offering four free at-home COVID tests in late November.
Treat your COVID infection by talking to a healthcare provider, and see if treatments like Paxlovid, available at many local pharmacies, could help.
🤓 More reading: Idaho leads the nation for religious exemptions to vaccines, which means that only 80% of children are vaccinated against polio, chickenpox, MMR, and DTaP.
Let’s keep each other safe and healthy this winter!
