#17,851
After six months without a clearly dominant COVID variant, over the past 30 days JN.1 (a subvariant of the emerging BA.2.86 lineage) has taken charge, becoming the first COVID variant to achieve a > 50% share since early last summer.
Today's CDC Nowcast for the United States has JN.1 now at 61.6% (range 54.9-67.9), with all other variants losing ground to this viral juggernaut. HV.1 remains in 2nd place, but is down nearly 40% over the past 2 weeks.
This offshoot of the BA.2.86 variant - which carries an additional L455S mutation which enhances immune escape - is likely to continue to grow in the weeks ahead.
The CDC's most recent update on JN.1 - published on December 22nd - states:
JN.1’s continued growth suggests that the variant is either more transmissible or better at evading our immune systems than other circulating variants. It is too early to know whether or to what extent JN.1 will cause an increase in infections or hospitalizations.
The WHO Statement & Risk Assessment On COVID Variant JN.1 published that same week stated:
Based on the available evidence, the additional global public health risk posed by JN.1 is currently evaluated as low. Despite this, with the onset of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, JN.1 could increase the burden of respiratory infections in many countries
and:
Current vaccines continue to protect against severe disease and death from JN.1 and other circulating variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
None of this is happening in a vacuum, as the Northern Hemisphere is deep into its influenza season as well. Key points from today's weekly FluView report include:
- Seasonal influenza activity is elevated and continues to increase in most parts of the country.
- Outpatient respiratory illness has been above baseline1 nationally since November and is above baseline in all 10 HHS Regions.
- The number of weekly flu hospital admissions continues to increase.
- During Week 52, of the 651 viruses reported by public health laboratories, 581 (89.2%) were influenza A and 70 (10.8%) were influenza B. Of the 342 influenza A viruses subtyped during Week 52, 300 (87.7%) were influenza A(H1N1) and 42 (12.3%) were A(H3N2).
- Seven influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported during Week 52, bringing the 2023-2024 season total to 27 pediatric deaths.
- CDC estimates that there have been at least 10 million illnesses, 110,000 hospitalizations, and 6,500 deaths from flu so far this season.
The CDC continues to remind everyone:
- CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine as long as influenza viruses are spreading.2 Vaccination now can still provide benefit this season.
- There also are prescription flu antiviral drugs that can treat flu illness; those should be started as early as possible and are especially important for higher risk patients.3
- Flu viruses are among several viruses contributing to respiratory disease activity. CDC is providing updated, integrated information about COVID-19, flu, and RSV activity on a weekly basis.
