WHO Asks Countries To Continue 'Strong Surveillance' Amid Covid Surge Ahead Of Festive Season

Amid the surge in respiratory diseases and the new JN.1 COVID sub-variant, the WHO has said that the virus is evolving and changing and urged countries to continue with strong surveillance.

Amid the surge in respiratory diseases and the new JN.1 COVID sub-variant, the WHO has said that the virus is evolving and changing

Source : Getty

In the wake of the approaching festive season, the World Health Organisation has urged countries to continue with strong surveillance and sequence sharing amid the rising number of Covid cases. The WHO said that the virus is evolving and changing. This comes amid a surge in respiratory diseases and the new JN.1 Covid sub-variant. The global body also shared a video of its COVID-19 technical lead, Maria Van Kerkhove, who explained the reason for the recent surges and what precautions can be taken.   

The WHO shared a video on X and said, "Dr @mvankerkhove talks about the current surge in respiratory diseases #COVID19 and JN.1 subvariant. WHO continues to assess the situation.  Follow WHO's public health advice to keep your families and friends safe during this holiday season". 

Dr @mvankerkhove talks about the current surge in respiratory diseases #COVID19 and JN.1 subvariant.

WHO continues to assess the situation. Follow WHO's public health advice to keep your families and friends safe during this holiday season. pic.twitter.com/HvAZVMMN49

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) December 17, 2023

The WHO expert urged the member states to continue with strong surveillance and sequence sharing so that proper steps can be taken to "potentially modify" the advice for the world. She also explained the reason for the recent surges and what precautions can be taken.

In the video message, Kerkhove said that the recent surge in respiratory infections is due to several reasons which include rise in gatherings during the holiday season and other infections.

"It's not just COVID-19 that's circulating; we have influenza, other viruses, and bacteria. In other parts of the world, we are entering the winter months, and people are starting to gather for the holiday season. And as people gather, they spend more time indoors, especially if there is poor ventilation. These pathogens that spread efficiently between people and through the air will take advantage," she said.

She further said that the rise in COVID cases is because the virus is evolving, adding that 68 per cent of the current cases are cases of XBB sublineages and other groupings like JN.1.

"Covid-19 is one of the diseases that is currently on the rise, and this is again due to a number of factors; the virus SARS-Cov-2 is evolving, changing, and circulating in all countries," Kerkhove said.

She further stated, "In some countries, we have these XBB sublineages, and they represent around 68 per cent or so of the sequences that are shared globally. The other grouping is BA.2.86, most notably JN.1 which causes the full spectrum, everything from asymptomatic infection. All the way to severe disease and death, similar to what we have seen with other Omicron sublineages."

Different Countries Witnessing Covid Surge

Amid the rapid resurgence of respiratory infections, including Covid-19, governments across Southeast Asia are bringing back measures, including installing temperature scanners at airports and encouraging people to wear masks again.

In Indonesia, officials have reinstalled thermal scanners at some border checkpoints, the Straits Times newspaper reported. The check points include Jakarta’s main international airport and the Batam ferry terminal.

Indonesia’s health ministry has also requested that people postpone travelling to areas witnessing a spike in cases of Covid19 cases, “complete their two-dose vaccination, wear masks and wash their hands, and stay home should they fall sick,” as per a Bloomberg report.

In Singapore, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said it "strongly encourages" people to wear a mask in crowded places even if they are not ill, especially indoors or when visiting vulnerable people, as per ChannelNewsAsia.

On Friday, the ministry stated that the estimated number of Covid-19 cases from December 3 to 9 increased to 56,043, a 75 percent jump compared with 32,035 cases in the previous week.

In Malaysia, Covid cases have almost doubled in a week, increasing to 6,796 in the week ended Dec. 2 from 3,626 the previous week, as per a Bloomberg report. Authorities, however, have stated that the situation is under control and there is no burden on healthcare facilities.

Kerala Minister Says Not To Worry

Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao also assured the people of the state to not worry. Speaking to ANI on the Covid cases in the state, he said, "As per our records, we have about 58 active cases, 11 are hospitalized and the remaining are at home. So far in the last three months, we have had one death due to COVID-19 but the person who died had other co-morbidities also. We are already taking precautionary measures. We have informed all the hospitals and Health centres to increase testing for those who come with symptoms of cough and flu and other Covid-like symptoms".

#WATCH | On COVID cases in the state, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao says, "There is nothing to worry about. As per our records, we have about 58 active cases, 11 are hospitalized and the remaining are at home. So far in the last three months, we have had one death… pic.twitter.com/G4oLE36aWf

— ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2023

Covid-19 Variant JN.1

As of December 8, 2023, JN.1 comprised an estimated 15 to 29 per cent of cases in the US. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, JN.1 is currently the fastest-growing variant in the US, and is projected to continue increasing as a proportion of SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences. 

The CDC has been tracking BA.2.86, the Omicron subvariant from which JN.1 emerged, since August 2023. The only difference between BA.2.86 and JN.1 is that of a spike protein.