Think of it as getting to know the new neighbors in your community, or at least some of the viruses that are infecting so many people in your neighborhood, as we discuss the newest COVID-19 viral variant.
At least it seems that way as we chat with others. The one I am highlighting is JN.1. As folks gathered and celebrated the holidays in groups in close quarters, the casual impression is that many revelers “got it.”
JN.1 is a descendant of the omicron lineage. It seems to be a direct mutation from the BA.2.86 variant, called “pirola,” which arose sometime last summer. Felt to be more infectious than its predecessors, BA.2.86 had 26 to 30 new mutations on its “spike” proteins on the surface of the viruses. These surface structures are what attach to our host cells to allow infection. Everyone was very worried it would become a real scourge like some of the past variants.
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Fortunately, it has caused more but not more serious disease. In mid-November, a descendant of it emerged with one more mutation on the spike protein. It was dubbed JN.1 and initially constituted a few percent of new cases, but it has risen to become as high as 44% in the past few weeks. So far there are no data to suggest that JN.1 causes different symptoms than previous COVID variants.
These include fever and/or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle and/or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell (not as much as the original strain caused), sore throat, congestion, “brain fog,” runny nose, nausea and/or vomiting and diarrhea. Not all of these appear in everyone. The fact that both influenza and respiratory syncytial viruses are up and running alongside COVID and “common colds” really confuses the diagnosis.
It seems to be pretty transmissible, or what we call contagious. JN.1’s parent, pirola, appeared to be more contagious than previous omicron variants. From hearing lately about friends and neighbors contracting home test positive COVID, the impression that JN.1 is likely even more transmissible feels valid. The reasons for this are complex. People have not been getting the updated COVID vaccine, which does have protective effects against the COVID omicron variants in “the neighborhood.” Immunity from prior infections and vaccines has waned to a degree. Wearing masks is pretty sporadic from the “COVID fatigue” attitude.
What to do to try to avoid getting infected includes the same old saws for all the microbes in your neighborhood. Washing your hands still is important for all things. Wearing a mask in groups or in close quarters helps, and many folks are doing that these days. Get vaccinated! These vaccines, for the most part, are safe, and do protect us from getting seriously sick and dying. For those concerned about stem cells or fetal tissue used in producing them, the Novovax brand has none of that. If you get infected, taking Paxlovid, preferably within five days of symptoms starting, has been shown to reduce the disease severity and possibility of dying from omicron critters. That’s a pretty good reason for taking it.
So, that is an introduction the newest COVID viral kid on the block. We are not encouraging you get acquainted with it but just understand the features it may share with you if you do have an encounter with it. This, among others, is one viral individual in the neighborhood that is best not to get too chummy with. Your mother ordinarily would encourage you to be friendly with newcomers. But in this case, she would approve if you kept your distance.
Dr. Frank Bures, a semi-retired dermatologist, has worked in Winona, La Crosse, Viroqua and Red Wing since 1978. He also plays clarinet in the Winona Municipal Band and a couple Dixieland groups.
