In France, the JN.1 strain of the coronavirus represents nearly 70% of contaminations.
- The JN.1 variant, also called “Juno”, is a sublineage of BA.2.86, which is nicknamed “Pirola”.
- The latter is the variant that circulates the most in France. It represents 67-70% of the interpretable sequences from the surveys of December 11 and 18, 2023, according to Public Health France.
- For the moment, the health authority indicates that no worrying signals in terms of health have been associated with the JN.1 strain.
While the spread of influenza viruses intensified from January 1 to 7, a reduction in all Covid-19 indicators was observed, despite SARS-CoV-2 circulation still being active. According to the latest figures from Public Health France, the positivity rate was decreasing in the city and in the hospital. Virological indicators from tests carried out in medical biology laboratories were also decreasing in all age groups. In wastewater, the detection of coronavirus was also in sharp decline.
Variant JN.1: “It represented around 67-70% of the sequences”
However, the dynamic increase in the BA.2.86 variant, nicknamed “Pirola” and which began to spread at the end of August in the country, continues. She “is carried mainly by JN.1”. Because yes, currently the JN.1 sublineage, also called “Juno”, has become the majority variant in mainland France. “It represented around 67-70% of the interpretable sequences of the Flash surveys of December 11 and 18, 2023 (compared to 62% for that of December 4)”, can we read in the bulletin published by Public Health France on January 10.
The JN.1 variant would be very contagious because it has an additional mutation in the spike protein. Thus, this sublineage would be more resistant to antibodies. According to the health authority, at this stage, no signals of concern in terms of public health have been associated with the JN.1 strain, which would cause symptoms similar to those of other winter viruses. The list of signs includes fever, fatigue, stuffy nose, headache, cough. This variant would also cause muscle pain, breathing difficulties and loss of taste and smell.
Adopt barrier gestures in addition to vaccination against Covid-19
“In this context, the systematic adoption of barrier gestures in addition to vaccination remains an effective means of protecting oneself from respiratory infections and their complications by limiting the risk of transmission of these viruses to those around them: wearing a mask cases of symptoms, in busy places and in the presence of vulnerable people, hand washing and regular ventilation of enclosed places”, underlined Public Health France.
