After reporting 34 cases of JN.1 on December 25 and 165 cases on January 1, an additional 175 people from Karnataka are found to be infected with the highly transmissible new sub-variant of Omicron. With this, the total JN.1 cases in the State has now touched 374.
This follows whole genome sequencing (WGS) of 828 samples at the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, and the NCBS in Bengaluru. Of the 443 results of samples that have been received till Friday, 84% (374) are infected with JN.1, 7% (30) are found to be positive for XBB and the remaining are other variants.
While the district-wise break up of the JN.1 cases was not made available, officials said over 60% are from Bengaluru. Officials said the reports are of samples that were sent a fortnight ago.