What Should We Know About the Seven New Covid-19 Cases in Rajasthan?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Rajasthan reports seven new Covid-19 cases.
- Genome sequencing is being conducted.
- JN.1 variant is linked to rising cases.
- No fatalities reported yet.
- Public advised to remain cautious.
Jaipur, May 24 (NationPress) As Covid-19 cases witness an uptick across the nation, Rajasthan has confirmed seven new infections within the past 48 hours.
Among these, four cases emerged at AIIMS Jodhpur, while three cases were reported from Sawai Man Singh Medical College in Jaipur.
Of the four patients testing positive for Covid-19 at AIIMS Jodhpur, two are children and two are adults.
At Sawai Man Singh Medical College, two patients were identified as positive for Covid-19, alongside another patient at Rabindranath Tagore Medical College in Udaipur.
In Jodhpur, among the Covid-infected patients, one child hails from Bhilwara, with the others being local residents.
The children are aged five months, 11, and 12 years, while one of the adults is 38 years old.
In response to these new cases, Deepak Maheshwari, Principal of Sawai Man Singh Medical College, has instructed for genome sequencing to ascertain the specific variants involved.
This situation arises amidst the emergence of the new sub-variant JN.1 of Covid-19, which is causing an increase in cases across several Asian nations.
During a media briefing at Sawai Man Singh Medical College in Jaipur on Saturday, Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar stated that the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has yet to release any advisory classifying the new variant as severe.
Gayatri Rathore, Principal Secretary of the Rajasthan Health Department, mentioned that a panel of experts at the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has verified that JN.1 is an Omicron sub-variant.
No fatalities have been linked to this variant thus far, and panic is deemed unnecessary.
Individuals exhibiting symptoms are encouraged to seek medical advice and adhere to standard treatment protocols.
The JN.1 variant, a descendant of Omicron's BA.2.86, was first identified in August 2023.
In December 2023, the World Health Organisation (WHO) classified it as a 'variant of interest'.
This variant possesses nearly 30 mutations that may compromise the immune response.
According to Johns Hopkins University, the JN.1 variant is more transmissible than its predecessors but is not classified as highly dangerous.
It has become one of the most prevalent strains on a global scale.
Symptoms associated with the JN.1 variant can linger from a few days to several weeks.
In some instances, patients might experience long Covid, where symptoms persist after recovery.
Health officials are continuously monitoring the situation and advise the public to exercise caution while avoiding undue alarm, officials stated.