CORONAVIRUS/Cases of new COVID-19 variant remain low in Taiwan: CDC

Taipei, Dec. 19 (CNA) The number of JN.1 COVID-19 variant cases recorded in Taiwan remains relatively low in Taiwan, currently making up only 3 percent of COVID cases detected in the last four weeks, the CDC announced Tuesday.

According to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) spokesperson Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞) at the center's weekly news conference, the JN.1 variant had been detected in over 40 nations around the world as of Dec. 18.

JN.1 is the fastest-spreading variant in Western nations, Lo said, adding that it is also now the main variant recorded in Singapore, making up over half of cases documented in the city-state recently.

However, cases of JN.1 have remained relatively low in countries close to Taiwan, with the variant being detected in less than 10 percent of COVID-19 cases reported in Japan.

Lo explained that while JN.1 is equipped with immune avoidance capabilities that enable it to spread easily, there has been no significant increase in the number of severe cases from the variant, meaning it has a relatively low public health risk factor.

Moreover, the variant is vulnerable to antiviral medical treatment and can be detected by rapid tests, Lo said, adding that no observable increase in JN.1 cases has been reported in Taiwan.

In Taiwan, CDC official Kuo Hung-wei (郭宏偉) said of all of the domestic COVID-19 cases documented in the nation over the past four weeks, 81 percent consisted of the EG.5 variant, followed by XBB.1.9.1 at six percent, BA.2.86 at five percent and finally JN.1 at three percent.

Imported cases to Taiwan in that period consisted of EG.5 at 53 percent, JN.1 at 28 percent and BA.2.86 at five percent, Kuo said.

At the press conference, Lo went on to talk about the XBB vaccine, the latest COVID-19 vaccine, citing research from other nations as evidence that the drug is effective against the virus, including the JN.1 variant.

Approximately 49,900 people received the XBB vaccine last week, the highest in six weeks, Lo said, confirming that more and more members of the public have indicated a willingness to get inoculated.

In related news, Infection Control Society of Taiwan chairwoman Chen Yi-chun (陳宜君) at the CDC presser said the transmission of streptococcus pneumoniae-caused illnesses is currently the highest it has been in the last three years.

Chen warned that such illnesses tend to peak during the winter and spring, and due to its drug resistant nature, the most effective response to streptococcus pneumoniae is vaccination.

Honorary chairman of Taiwan's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Lee Ping-ing (李秉穎) went on to add that pneumoniae-caused illnesses are most fatal to senior citizens aged 65 and above, but only 40 percent of that demographic has been inoculated, meaning less than half of the senior population in Taiwan is protected.