KATHMANDU, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Nepali government on Monday confirmed the presence of a new coronavirus subvariant JN.1 in the South Asian country.
The JN.1 strain was found in seven out of 16 coronavirus positive samples taken from people of different ages for examination through the gene sequencing method, the Ministry of Health and Population said in a press statement.
"It is the first time that the presence of the JN.1 strain was confirmed in Nepal," the ministry said.
Coronavirus cases re-emerged in Nepal in recent days as neighbouring India has witnessed increasing infections with the JN.1 strain. The Nepali ministry has urged health desks at the border points to increase screening of people and asked people to avoid crowds, maintain physical distance and use masks.
Last month, the World Health Organization classified the JN.1 strain as a separate variant of interest, citing the strain's rapidly increasing spread around the globe. ■
