THE latest Covid wave could be the “biggest yet”, a leading virologist has warned.
The JN.1 variant, an offshoot of the Omicron strain, now accounts for 65 per cent of all cases – up from four per cent in early November, according to the latest data from COG-UK.
Ian Whittaker – The SunA scientist says people who haven’t had the booster should wear masks[/caption]
The JN.1 variant is making people feel more unwell than previous versions of the bug
With temperatures plummeting and socialising inside with loved ones over Christmas, experts predict cases could continue to rise throughout January.
Professor Peter Openshaw, a virus expert at Imperial College London, told The Sun Health: “We’re going to see quite a major surge in infections over the coming weeks – the wave could be bigger than anything we’ve seen before.”
He said in a bid to help stop the spread, Brits who haven’t received a Covid booster this winter should consider wearing masks in public again.
“To help stop the spread, those who haven’t had the Covid booster should consider wearing face masks in public places, like on trains, when shopping and at large events,” he said.
Wearing a mask reduces the spread of bugs by reducing the number of infectious particles that may be inhaled or exhaled, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Professor Christina Pagel of University College London (UCL) previously told i news. : “Unfortunately, it is likely that this JN.1 wave has not yet peaked and will peak mid-January, either next week or the week after.
“I am sure this wave will rival the first two Omicron waves in 2022 and might even exceed them.”
The current record high for Covid cases was recorded in April 2, 2022, when 7.6 per cent of the UK population was infected with the virus, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) infection survey.
Those who haven’t had the Covid booster should consider wearing face masks in public places.
Professor Peter Openshaw
For comparison, 4.3 per cent had the virus on December, 13 – with numbers expected to have risen considerably since then.
Professor Jonathan Bell, a virologist from the University of Nottingham and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, said the rise in JN.1 cases is a “sign of things to come”.
“New variants will continue to evolve, replace pre-existing variants causing major outbreaks of infection,” he said.
“I don’t think this [particular] rise is too concerning.
“We know that in the majority of people vaccines continue to protect against serious disease, that’s why it’s important for vulnerable people to ensure that they’ve had their latest vaccine booster jab.”
Although JN.1 is believed to be more infectious than the other Covid sub-variants circulating in the UK at the moment, there is nothing to suggest it causes more severe disease.
However, emerging anecdotal evidence suggests the new bug could be making people more unwell due to waning immunity.
Prof Openshaw said: “It’s a surprisingly devious virus, sometimes making people quite ill and occasionally leading to having ‘long Covid’.”
Sufferers have taken to social media to share how ill the new virus has left them them feeling “much worse” than previous variants.
Talking to The Sun earlier this month, the expert Prof Openshaw said: “Immunity falls over time, and for many, it’s been over a year since they had their last booster jabs.”
Last winter, all over-50s could be vaccinated. Now, it is only the over-65s, unless you are in an at-risk group.
This means the majority of Brits could not get a booster jab this winter.
The more a virus changes, the less effective antibodies are at fighting it.
“The virus circulating now is quite different from the one we saw in 2020,” Prof Openshaw said.
“The new virus has become so much better at transmitting from person to person, and it’s likely only going to get better.
“It’s also much better at evading the current immunity from infection and vaccination.”
All the new symptoms you need to know
As the virus has mutated its symptoms have changed with it.
For example, loss of taste and smell – once a hallmark sign of the bug – is only reported by two to three per cent of infected Brits, according to a winter Covid report from the ONS.
Some of the other classic Covid symptoms, like a runny nose and cough are still common.
However, fever, another typical symptom of older variants, was only experienced by two per cent of people this winter.
ONS scientists suggest that anxiety might be a new sign of the bug – though experts don’t know exactly why.
Almost 10 per cent of Brits with Covid have consistently reported anxiety, excess worrying or trouble sleeping since early November.
The data suggested the most common symptom of JN.1 variant was runny nose, with 31 per cent of patients reporting the symptom, the report said.
Some 23 per cent of people reported experiencing a cough, and 20 per cent a headache.
Nearly 20 per cent of people with the bug reported weakness and fatigue, 16 per cent reported experiencing muscle aches, and 13 per cent had a sore throat.