From Time Inc.:



Respiratory pathogens, such as RSV and flu, are on the rise this winter in the U.S. due to the highly mutated Omicron strain, “Pirola” JN.1. It currently dominates U.S. COVID infections, and combined with other illnesses, could test hospital capacity. Hospitalizations are rising in New York City, with JN.1 responsible for more than a third of cases. National and global public health emergencies that ended earlier this year add an additional layer of uncertainty. U.S. COVID, flu, and RSV hospitalizations combined are currently sitting well below last year’s level, down by about a third. Up-to-date vaccines are expected to hold up against JN.1 when it comes to protecting against severe disease and death. However, vaccine uptake is far from optimal, especially among children, elderly, and immunocompromised populations. U.S. hospital systems are preparing for this winter surge better than last year, but special efforts must be made to ensure all populations have equal access to vaccinations and treatments. The U.S. may not experience a repeat of winter 2021-2022, but vaccination is crucial to limiting the impact of rising respiratory pathogens this winter season.



Original: JN.1—a new, highly mutated COVID variant—could cause one of the largest U.S. waves yet, experts say. When each state could see the variant peak