The World Health Organization (WHO) classified the sub-variant of the Omicron strain JN.1 as a "variant of interest",because of "its rapidly increasing spread".

JN.1 has been found in many countries around the world, including India, China, UK and the United States.

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• It is descended from the BA.2.86 (Pirola) variant.
• It appears able to evade antibodies from previous Omicron infections
• There is no evidence that it causes more severe disease
• COVID-19 vaccines are still expected to protect against severe disease and death
• It is likely to exacerbate winter pressures on health systems

The risk to the public is currently low and current vaccines continue to offer protection, the WHO says.

WHO said current vaccines will continue to protect against severe disease and death from JN.1 and other circulating variants of the COVID-19 virus.

But it warns Covid and other infections could rise this winter.

Respiratory viruses such as flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and childhood pneumonia are also on the rise in the northern hemisphere.

It is currently the fastest-growing variant in the United States, according to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, accounting for 15-29% of infections.