Last Updated:May 19, 2025, 09:58 IST JN.1, a variant of Omicron BA.2.86, emerged in late 2023 with 30 immune-evasion mutations. It spreads more efficiently due to additional mutations, says Johns Hopkins University. The prevalent variants at present are LF.7 and NB.1.8, both descendants of JN.1, making up over two-thirds of sequenced cases in Singapore. (Photo: AP file) A fresh wave of COVID-19 has emerged across parts of Asia, raising alarms worldwide. Countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong, China, and Thailand are reporting a notable increase in new infections. This surge is largely attributed to the spread of new Omicron subvariants, including JN.1 and its related descendants, prompting renewed vigilance among health authorities. In Singapore alone, infections rose sharply to over 14,000 in early May 2025 from 11,100 cases in the last week of April. While hospitalisations have also gone up, ICU cases have seen a slight decline. Officials report no evidence suggesting that the current variants are more transmissible or severe than those seen previously. The increase may be attributed to waning immunity, with periodic …