New COVID-19 variant JN.1 detected in Kuwait

Agencies | Kuwait City

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Kuwait has detected a new variant of COVID-19, JN.1, but no emergency measures are planned. The Ministry of Health has made an updated vaccine available at 42 health centres across the country.

People over 60 years old, chronic illnesses, and immunodeficiency sufferers are advised to take the inoculation. The World Health Organisation (WHO) designated JN.1 as a "variant of interest" due to its sharp rise in global spread.

The additional global public health risk posed by JN.1 is currently evaluated as low, but current vaccines continue to protect against severe disease and death from JN.1 and other circulating variants. JN.1 is a descendant of Omicron and has symptoms similar to other variants.