JN.1, the latest fast-spreading COVID version, is now the most widely circulating disease variant, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

An offspring of earlier Omicron variants, JN.1 accounts for about 62% of current cases, up from 44% two weeks ago. That surge is seen domestically as tracked by wastewater levels as well as in international travelers and most places around the globe.

“COVID-19 activity is currently high. COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths have increased in recent weeks. JN.1 may be intensifying the spread of COVID-19 this winter,” CDC said in its Jan. 5 statement.

There is good news amid the surge, however. COVID infections are now causing severe disease less frequently. While cases are up some 27% from the same time last year, the number of virus-related illnesses that require emergency room visits is 21% lower. COVID hospitalizations are 22% lower than at this point in 2023 and the percent of total deaths associated with COVID is down 38%.

CDC said the change in infection levels vs. severe illness is related to greater immune protections provided by vaccines, prior infection, or the combination.

“Over 97% of people have natural or vaccine-induced antibodies against the virus that causes COVID-19,” the federal health agency said. “This immune protection can fade over time but tends to last longer for preventing severe disease than for preventing infections.”

Most common symptoms and the order they appear

JN.1 does not appear to cause more severe illness than previous strains and its symptoms are similar. They include:

• Sore throat
• Congestion
• Runny nose
• Cough
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Fever or chills
• Loss of sense of taste or smell
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

There does appear to be an order in which the symptoms are appearing.

NBC News reported doctors are seeing more upper respiratory symptoms that start with a sore throat followed by congestion and cough. Things like loss of taste or smell or diarrhea – hallmarks of early COVID cases – are less prominent.

All COVID diagnostic tests, including rapid antigen tests and PCR tests, are effective at detecting JN.1 and other variants, according to the CDC. The variants are also sensitive to antiviral treatments like Paxlovid, TODAY reported.