Tunisia records first case of new COVID-19 variant
Tunisian health authorities have reported the first case of infection with the new variant of the COVID-19 virus, “JIN.1.“
Riadh Daghfous, the Director-General of the Tunisian Center for Pharmacovigilance, announced Wednesday that the first case of the new “JIN.1” variant was detected in Tunisia following genetic sequencing of 60 samples taken by a hospital in the capital.
Daghfous urged the necessity of adhering to COVID-19 precautionary measures to limit the spread of this variant.
What is the “JIN.1″ variant? In September 2023, the “JIN.1” variant was first discovered in the United States. Research and studies have confirmed it to be one strain of the Omicron variant.
Initially, the infection rate with this variant was slow, but after several months, it became very rapid.
After examining samples from individuals infected with the “JIN.1” variant, the World Health Organization determined it was not of concern and recommended treating it as a new strain of the COVID-19 virus, its severity increasing with the waning efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines.
So far, research and studies have not confirmed that the “JIN.1” variant is more dangerous than other viruses, but it causes rapid transmission of infection, accompanied by symptoms such as sore throat, fever, headache, and congestion, invading the body due to declining immunity.
Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that new COVID-19 vaccines enhance protection against the JIN.1 variant.
