Covid-19 Omicron sub-variants HK.3, JN.1 detected in in Kuching, Samarahan, Sibu

File photo for illustration only. Photo credit: Pixabay

KUCHING, Dec 21: The HK.3 and JN.1 sub-variants of the Omicron strain of Covid-19 have been detected in Kuching, Samarahan and Sibu.

According to Director of the Institute of Health and Community Medicine (IHCM), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak Professor Dr David Perera, the institute had successfully sequenced 61 samples, obtained from November to December, this year.

“The dominant Omicron sub-variants detected were HK.3 (26 per cent) and the JN.1 (49 per cent),” he disclosed in his latest Covid-19 positive cases surveillance report to the Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, who is the chairman of the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) today.

Dr David said it is essential to note that the prevalence of the HK.1 and the JN.1 in other areas in the State remains uncertain due to limited data.

He also said that notably, the JN.1 sub-variant, initially recorded in the USA in September this year, has rapidly spread and now constitutes a third of all positive cases in the country (USA).

“The JN.1 increased transmissibility and immune-evasiveness, marked by multiple new mutations, has led to the surge in Covid-19 cases worldwide,” he added.

As such, he strongly also advised Sarawakian to recognise the heightened risk of increased infection rate.

“Please take all the necessary precautions to avoid infection and prevent transmission, especially in view of the coming festive period.

“This is crucial to protect all and in particular, those vulnerable individuals,” he said.

The Institute of Health and Community Medicine (IHCM) is monitoring the SARS-CoV-2 variants in Sarawak as part of the national surveillance initiative. — DayakDaily