WITH SARS-COV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, continuously churning out new variants, 13 cases of two new subspecies of JN.1 variant, KP.2, KP.3, which are members of a group called FliRT, have now been found in Thailand, Thai Rath newspaper said last evening (May 9).
Dr. Yongyuth Thammawut, head of Department of Medical Sciences, Public Health Ministry, said JN.1’s subvariants include KP.2, KP.3, KS.1, KP.1.1 with the first two now found in Thailand, and all have double or more advantage in transmissibility and immune escape.
Nine cases of KP.2 appeared in health zones 8, 10 and 13, while four cases of KP.3 emerged in health zones 4 and 13.
Of the total of 503 cases of JN.1 and its subspecies, KP.2 and its further subvarients form 1.79% while KP.3 adds up to 0.79%.
In addition two cases of hybrids that spun out of JN.1 and other variants were found – one being XDK and the other XDR in health zones 1 and 11 respectively.
JN.1 and its subvariants are now mainly spreading in Thailand. Its distinct genetic features, carrying more than 30 spike protein mutations, heightens infectivity and also seems to enable them to resist immunity. JN.1 is in turn a subvariant of BA.2.86 which has spread to more than 116 countries worldwide.
However, Dr. Yongyuth said the Department of Medical Sciences and its network of laboratories are continuously monitoring the mutation of Covid variants by checking samples of positive results from across the country.
He added that over the past one to two weeks there has been a slight increase in Covid cases but this is to be expected because it has become an endemic disease with patients found throughout the year. The public is urged to beware but not panic and protect themselves according to public health measures, mainly wearing a face mask when in crowded places and washing hands frequently.
CAPTION:
Representative images of Covid-19. Top: Ecdc.europa.eu, Front Page: iStock and published by Deccan Herald
Also read: AstraZeneca withdraws Covid-19 vaccine globally months after admitting to side effects
Concern over spread of Covid-19, nearly 10,000 cases a day
MP opposes Suthin’s plan to buy 10-year-old rice for soldiers to eat
Professor warns of aflatoxin contamination in 10-year-old rice
Rayong gas tank fire under control after raging for 6 hours
Doubt cast on Thaksin’s hush-hush moves toward Myanmar conflict
