HANOI: Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City has recently reported the emergence of sub-variant JN.1 of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, the city’s department of health said on Wednesday.
The emerging sub-variant was found in hospitalized patients in December 2023 in the city, according to Xinhua.
The municipal Department of Health said that the JN.1 sub-variant appeared in Ho Chi Minh after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported it as the fastest growing variant and dominate in the US in December last year.
The Vietnam’s health ministry said that JN.1 is a sub-branch variant of Omicron strain BA.2.86. It has asked citizens not be too worried but stay vigilant.
The number of hospitalized cases at the city Hospital of Tropical Diseases due to the pandemic has increased in the last 6 weeks, according to Vietnamese media reports.
Vietnam reports 419 new cases
In the first two weeks of 2024, Vietnam reported 419 new cases in thirty-nine localities. The number of hospitalized cases surged but there have been no severe cases, according to the Vietnam’s health ministry.
