The Egyptian Ministry of Health has denied the authenticity of a post falsely attributed to it “warning citizens of a new, deadly, and highly dangerous coronavirus variant with difficult-to-detect symptoms.”
The Ministry added that there is no truth to the emergence of such a new, lethal, and severe coronavirus variant with hard-to-detect symptoms. The circulating post is fake and not issued by the Ministry, emphasizing that the epidemiological situation of the virus in Egypt is safe and stable.
The Ministry continued that no new variants have been detected other than the “JN.1” variant, which the Ministry has announced through its official communication channels. Most cases of this variant are mild with low symptoms, and there are no clinically different symptoms from the previous coronavirus. The Ministry pointed out that Egypt has an epidemiological surveillance program dedicated to tracking all epidemic diseases and their spread rates.
It clarified that if any new strain of coronavirus is detected, information about infections, treatment plans, and response strategies will be announced. The Ministry is keen on conducting genetic tracking of the coronavirus, especially for arrivals from countries with outbreaks and new genetic mutations, to prevent their entry into Egypt. The Ministry urges citizens not to be misled by such falsehoods and to seek information from official sources.
The current global COVID-19 situation is being closely monitored due to the rise of a new variant named JN.1. This variant, now estimated to account for about 20% of COVID-19 cases in the United States, has been named a variant of concern by the World Health Organization (WHO). Although the WHO has not yet added JN.1 to its high-risk watchlist, they are monitoring it closely, especially with the approach of winter months and increased indoor gatherings. The symptoms of JN.1 are believed to be similar to those of other Omicron family variants, typically starting with a sore throat, followed by congestion and a dry cough, among other symptoms. However, individuals over 75 or those who are immunocompromised and not recently vaccinated may experience more severe symptoms
In Singapore, the JN.1 variant has become dominant, accounting for the vast majority of recent COVID-19 cases. The week of December 3 to December 9 saw a 75% surge in cases, with the Ministry of Health noting that the majority were attributed to the JN.1 strain. Despite its rapid spread, infectious disease experts indicate that JN.1 may not be more severe than past variants. Factors contributing to the rise in cases include the time between vaccinations, reduced mask wearing, and increased travel .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States have reported increases in COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths, albeit at lower rates compared to the previous year. This change is attributed to higher levels of immune protection from vaccines, prior infections, or both. Over 97% of the population has natural or vaccine-induced antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19. The prevalence of the JN.1 variant in wastewater samples has also increased, indicating its growing transmission in communities. Despite these concerns, current vaccines are still expected to offer protection against severe illness from JN.1
