The Ministry of Health has dismissed concerns about the spread of a new SARS-CoV-2 variant called Omicron JN1 in Kenya. In a statement, Health Director-General Patrick Amoth said the ministry’s surveillance systems have been monitoring for COVID-19 variants since last December, including Omicron JN1, but have found no significant uptick in cases linked to this strain.
The ministry has one of the strongest disease surveillance networks in Africa. Through its robust monitoring program across multiple sites nationwide, no recent increases in overall SARS-CoV-2 infections have been reported relative to baseline levels over the past year. While respiratory illnesses are seasonally common at this time of year, COVID-19 cases specifically remain stable.
However, the ministry has observed a rise in influenza cases matching typical winter trends. Such viral infections often spread more widely when cold, dry weather drives people indoors. Like COVID-19, flu can cause severe illness, especially among high-risk groups including young children, older adults and those with chronic illnesses.
To curb influenza transmission, the public is reminded to get the flu vaccine if eligible. Continued adherence to preventive measures is also prudent, given hospitals still see COVID-19 patients despite low case rates. The ministry will continue thorough genomic sequencing to rapidly detect any variants of concern. Ongoing public health messaging remains important to manage respiratory disease risks.
Moving forward, the MOH aims to bolster disease tracking even more. Discussions are underway about proposals to integrate separate surveillance systems for optimal monitoring of epidemic and pandemic threats nationwide.
