Four additional COVID-19 cases have been reported from Pakistan.
Affected individuals were discovered to have JN.1 sub-variant infection following genome sequencing.
On Sunday night, Pakistan reported four cases of the JN.1 sub-variant of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, as per The News. Health authorities verified the presence of this highly contagious variant, revealing that the four individuals, who had arrived in the country from abroad, experienced mild symptoms and recovered without medical intervention.
An official from the National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination (NHS, R&C) disclosed that the affected individuals initially tested positive for COVID-19. Subsequent genome sequencing identified them as carriers of the JN.1 sub-variant.
Designated as a Variant of Interest (VoI) by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the JN.1 sub-variant is swiftly supplanting other Omicron sub-variants globally.
In response to the detection of this sub-variant in neighboring India and other countries, Pakistani health authorities recently implemented mandatory COVID-19 testing for 2% of inbound passengers. Samples are subjected to genome sequencing to identify the JN.1 sub-variant.
Caretaker Federal Health Minister Dr. Nadeem Jan reassured the public, stating that there's no need for panic, given that 90% of the Pakistani population is vaccinated against COVID-19. He emphasized the vigilance and active response of border health services authorities to international health regulations.
Dr. Nadeem Jan urged people to adopt preventive measures, including the use of masks, frequent handwashing with soap or sanitizers, and maintaining social distancing. These precautions, he emphasized, are essential to safeguard against not only COVID-19 but also other respiratory illnesses and flu.
