JN.1 is now the most common COVID variant in Oregon and the U.S.

(JANUARY 18, 2024) Many things are different now compared to when the COVID pandemic began four years ago. However, COVID is still here, and it can still make people very sick.

COVID has had many variants over the years. A COVID-19 variant is like a different version of the virus. It happens when the virus changes its genetic code a little bit. This can make it spread differently or affect people in new ways. Scientists keep an eye on these variants to understand how they might affect health, vaccines, and treatments.

JN.1 is a sub-variant of the Omicron variant. It was first detected in August.  Now, about 2/3 of the cases in the United States are JN.1, and about 58% of the cases in Oregon are JN.1. That means that that JN.1 is the most common variant in Oregon right now. 

“It’s pretty different from the variants that we’ve been seeing lately,” said Dr. Paul Cieslak. He's the Medical Director for Communicable Diseases and Immunizations and the Oregon Health Authority. “And so possibly it’s evading some of the immunity that we had.” Still, he says, vaccination is the best way for people to stay healthy. Even if a person gets sick, the vaccination helps to prevent more serious illness and hospitalization.