"World Health Organization designates JN.1 COVID strain as a 'variant of interest'"
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the new COVID-19 variant JN.1 as a "variant of interest" due to its rapid spread globally. While JN.1 has not been found to cause different or more severe symptoms compared to previous variants, its mutations suggest an advantage in evading immune defenses. The CDC has not yet classified JN.1 as a variant of interest in the United States. Current vaccines are expected to provide protection against JN.1, although early studies indicate lower neutralization of the variant by antibodies. JN.1 is projected to become the dominant variant in the U.S., with estimates suggesting it already accounts for over 20% of cases nationwide.