Recent Data Suggests COVID Variant JN.1 Not Linked to Severe Disease
Recent data from hospitals suggests that the latest COVID variant, known as JN.1, is not associated with more severe disease, according to an official from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC has observed JN.1’s steep rise, accounting for an estimated 85.7% of COVID-19 cases nationwide.
Dr. Eduardo Azziz-Baumgartner, a CDC official, mentioned during a webinar that a more detailed assessment of JN.1’s impact this season awaits additional weeks of data. Early signals indicate that JN.1’s symptoms may not be more severe compared to previous waves, based on electronic medical record cohorts and other data.
Azziz-Baumgartner emphasized the uniqueness of how the virus affects individuals, noting that severity can vary, and a virus that seems milder to the general population could be severe for an individual. The CDC aims to release more details about JN.1’s severity in the next couple of weeks as additional data accumulates.
Despite JN.1 contributing to the virus’s spread this winter, the CDC has stated that there is “no evidence” it causes more severe disease. The schedule for the CDC’s new assessment of JN.1 is unclear.
Contrary to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) decision to classify JN.1’s lineage as a “variant of interest,” CDC scientists and other federal health agencies have not made a similar move. The WHO reported on Friday that there are currently no laboratory or epidemiological reports linking JN.1 or its variants to increased disease severity.
The CDC’s early findings coincide with a slowdown in respiratory virus trends after a peak during the winter holidays. The CDC’s disease forecasters have concluded that JN.1’s spread does not warrant an increased assessment of COVID-19’s threat this winter, citing lower hospitalization rates compared to the last season.
COVID-19 hospitalizations this season continue to surpass influenza nationwide, with both weekly rates falling short of previous record highs. Azziz-Baumgartner cautioned that data lags may be affecting the overall picture as hospitals catch up on delayed reporting of weekly admissions. Officials are also monitoring for signs of a potential resurgence in influenza spread, as observed in previous seasons before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some jurisdictions, particularly in New England, report strain on hospitals, with CDC figures ranking the region’s hospital capacity rate as the worst in the country. Last week, Massachusetts General Hospital issued a warning about addressing an “unprecedented overcrowding” crisis, joined by other hospitals in the state.
