The World Health Organization (WHO) is closely monitoring the spread of the PJ.2.1 variant. Although its share is growing in several countries, specialists have not yet recorded a sustained overall increase in COVID-19 incidence linked to this strain.
Spread geography and strain characteristics
According to the WHO, the rising share of PJ.2.1 is observed in the US and Canada, with individual cases also recorded in Europe, although their numbers remain small. The variant is spreading unevenly. The strain was first detected in Canada in May 2026, after which infection cases were identified in the US, Spain, and other countries.
In early October, German scientists conducted a study on the characteristics of PJ.2.1. Laboratory tests showed that the new variant may bind more effectively to human cell receptors, potentially facilitating its transmission. However, researchers did not find a significantly higher ability to evade antibodies compared to other variants.
Specialists identify older populations as a risk group. Scientists established that PJ.2.1 is most frequently detected in citizens aged 60 and older, which aligns with trends seen in most other studied coronavirus varieties.
Context
The WHO plans to analyze accumulated data on PJ.2.1 when preparing vaccination recommendations, which are expected to be formulated by December.
