Increasing Covid-19 variant cases raising concerns

KARACHI: Karachi authorities have identified the JN.1 Covid-19 variant in three additional air passengers arriving from abroad raising concerns.

Rapid antigen tests conducted at Jinnah International Airport revealed positive results for three out of several travelers, all hailing from Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The patients include a 21-year-old from Naseerabad, a 22-year-old man from North Waziristan, and a 22-year-old resident of Mohmand Agency, who arrived in Karachi from Jeddah. With these new cases, the total number of JN.1 variant cases in Karachi has now reached five, as confirmed by tests conducted at the Aga Khan Laboratory.

The JN.1 variant, classified as a variant of interest by the World Health Organisation (WHO), is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant and is notably prevalent in the United States. While the variant is highly transmissible, experts suggest that it tends to cause mild symptoms similar to a common cold, affecting the upper respiratory tract.

In response to a suspected case of the JN.1 variant in Hyderabad, the district health officer (DHO) has directed the establishment of emergency wards in government hospitals. A 5-bed emergency ward will be allocated to government hospitals in Hyderabad to address potential cases of the new variant.

Earlier in the week, the Sindh health department reported two passengers testing positive for the JN.1 variant, an Omicron sub-variant, at Karachi airport. The affected individual, Munawar, who returned from Bangkok, is currently isolated at his residence in Qasimabad, awaiting test results.

Health authorities advise the public to adhere to preventive measures such as social distancing, mask-wearing, and proper sanitation to curb the spread of the JN.1 variant. The National Institute of Health (NIH) has issued an advisory to provinces, highlighting the variant’s classification by WHO and urging preparedness for potential challenges in the coming weeks.

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