BANGKOK (The Nation Thailand/ANN): Thailand's Department of Medical Sciences has reported on the ongoing surveillance of Covid-19 variants in the country, noting that the JN.1 variant remains the dominant strain, while the XEC variant is on the decline.
Vaccines continue to be effective in preventing severe illness caused by these variants, while following preventive measures consistently is still crucial, said Dr Yongyuth Thammawut, department’s Director-General on Friday.
From January 2024 to May 6, 2025, JN.1 accounted for 63.92% of all detected strains in Thailand, in line with the global situation where JN.1 remains the dominant variant. On the other hand, XEC has decreased and now makes up 3.07% of cases, reflecting the global trend.
The LP.8.1 variant (subvariant KP.1.1.3), which emerged in Thailand in January 2025, has also seen a reduction, with its proportion remaining under 10%.
Yongyuth added that the Department of Medical Sciences continues to work with laboratory networks to monitor genetic changes in the virus, preparing for any future outbreaks.
The genome sequences have been shared on the GISAID international database, with a total of 47,571 genome samples uploaded from January 2020 to May 6, 2025.
He reiterated that consistent adherence to preventive measures, such as wearing masks, covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and regular handwashing, remains essential to protecting against infection. - The Nation Thailand/ANN
