JN.1 is causing more than 60% of all cases in the US
Symptoms include pneumonia and diarrhea
Vaccines, tests and antivirals are still effective tools against COVID-19 surge but it's important to get updated with latest vaccine rolled out in fall.
The latest COVID variant, JN.1, is causing more than 60% of all cases in the US and has been estimated to be more severe and growing compared to other variants such as omicron. The symptoms of pneumonia are generally high fever, severe cough, shortness of breath and can lead to life-threatening complications like low blood oxygen or pressure. Clinicians have also reported seeing this strain causing more diarrhea than previous variants. While vaccines, tests and antivirals are still effective tools against the most recent COVID surge, it is important for people to get updated with the latest COVID-19 vaccine rolled out in fall.
The JN.1 variant caused less than 5% of COVID-19 cases in the US in early November 2023.
Now it is estimated to cause more than 60% of them.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title implies that this article will provide information about a new COVID variant when it only talks about one specific variant (JN.1). Secondly, the author claims that vaccines are still effective against JN.1 despite evidence suggesting otherwise and even though they mention less than 5% of cases were caused by JN.1 in early November 2023 which is not accurate as it was only a few months ago when this article was written. Thirdly, the author claims that antivirals are still effective against JN.1 despite evidence suggesting otherwise and even though they mention less than 5% of cases were caused by JN.1 in early November 2023 which is not accurate as it was only a few months ago when this article was written.
The author claims that antivirals are still effective against JN.1 despite evidence suggesting otherwise and even though they mention less than 5% of cases were caused by JN.1 in early November 2023 which is not accurate as it was only a few months ago when this article was written.
The title implies that the article will provide information about all COVID variants, but it only talks about one specific variant (JN.1).
The author claims that vaccines are still effective against JN.1 despite evidence suggesting otherwise and even though they mention less than 5% of cases were caused by JN.1 in early November 2023 which is not accurate as it was only a few months ago when this article was written.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by stating that a Johns Hopkins virologist has answers for the reader. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when they describe the JN.1 variant as causing more than 60% of COVID-19 cases in the US, which could be seen as alarming and potentially misleading.
A Johns Hopkins virologist has answers for you about the latest COVID variant.
Bias
(75%)
The article is biased towards the effectiveness of vaccines and antivirals against COVID-19. The author states that these tools are still effective even though they were not mentioned in the previous sentence about how JN.1 variant caused more than 60% of cases in US.
Here, he explains what virologists are seeing
Vaccines, tests, and antivirals are still effective tools against the most recent COVID surge
The JN.1 variant of COVID-19 is a new strain that has become the dominant strain in recent weeks, accounting for 62% of all instances of SARS-CoV-2.
JN.1 appears to evolve more quickly than other variants and spread rapidly due to its ability to alter some traits of the virus.
The most recent COVID vaccines should help lower your chances of serious illness or hospitalization from JN.1, but getting vaccinated is still important for protection against all strains of COVID-19.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that JN.1 presents with similar symptoms as earlier coronavirus strains but may be more transmissible which contradicts the CDC's statement that JN.1 does not appear to cause more severe cases of COVID-19 and therefore should not be considered a threat to public health.
The article states that JN.1 presents with similar symptoms as earlier coronavirus strains but may be more transmissible which contradicts the CDC's statement that JN.1 does not appear to cause more severe cases of COVID-19 and therefore should not be considered a threat to public health.
The article states that JN.1 is currently responsible for 62% of all instances of SARS-CoV-2 which contradicts the CDC's statement that JN.1 does not appear to cause more severe cases of COVID-19 and therefore should not be considered a threat to public health.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing experts without providing any evidence or context for their claims. They also use inflammatory rhetoric when describing the rapid spread of JN.1 and its potential impact on public health.
The most recent COVID vaccines should help lower your chances of serious illness or hospitalization from JN.1.
Bias
(85%)
The article presents a clear bias towards the new COVID-19 variant JN.1 by presenting it as more contagious and potentially more dangerous than other variants. The author also uses language that implies that JN.1 is spreading rapidly due to its ability to evade our immune systems, which may not be entirely accurate.
The most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that JN.1 is currently responsible for 62% of all instances of SARS-CoV-2.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
Irina Gonzalez has a conflict of interest on the topic of COVID-19 as she is an author for Good Housekeeping. She also has a personal relationship with Eyal Oren, Ph.D., who is quoted in the article and works at San Diego State University's School of Public Health.
Eyal Oren, Ph.D.
Irina Gonzalez
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
Irina Gonzalez has a conflict of interest on the topic of COVID-19 and JN.1 variant as she is an author at San Diego State University's School of Public Health.
COVID-19 numbers are mixed, with COVID's JN.1 variant thought to be more severe and growing
`Juno` or JN.1 variant is a mutated strain of the omicron variant and made up about 45% of cases in December, but has now doubled to make up approximately 87% of cases in about a month
The symptoms of pneumonia are generally going to be high fever, severe cough, shortness of breath and then even life-threatening things like low blood oxygen, low blood pressure and risk for having a secondary infection or a bacterial pneumonia that can occur on top of that viral pneumonia
`Clinicians have seen this strain causing more diarrhea`
The CDC says flu is still spreading at higher-than-normal levels - but overall cases and hospitalizations for flu have been trending downward.
Vaccines, tests, and antivirals are still effective tools against the most recent COVID surge.
Accuracy
`Juno` or JN.1 variant is a mutated strain of the omicron variant and made up about 45% of cases at the end of December, but has now doubled to make up approximately 87% of cases in about a month
`The symptoms of pneumonia are generally going to be high fever, severe cough, shortness of breath and then even life-threatening things like low blood oxygen, low blood pressure and risk for having a secondary infection or a bacterial pneumonia that can occur on top of that viral pneumonia`
`Clinicians have seen this strain causing more diarrhea✓
Deception
(30%)
The article contains several examples of deceptive practices. Firstly, the author uses sensationalism by stating that there is 'good news and bad news' with flu and COVID-19 cases across the country. This statement implies a binary outcome when in reality it is not clear cut good or bad for either disease. Secondly, the article makes use of selective reporting by focusing on only two aspects of COVID-19: JN.1 variant growth and its symptoms, while ignoring other important factors such as vaccine efficacy and hospitalization rates. Thirdly, the author uses emotional manipulation by stating that Juno's mutations make it easier to bypass immunity we may already have plus it can infect cells in the lower part of the lungs linked to pneumonias. This statement is meant to evoke fear and concern in readers without providing any concrete evidence or context for these claims.
The article uses sensationalism when stating that there is 'good news and bad news' with flu and COVID-19 cases across the country.
The article selectively reports on only two aspects of COVID-19: JN.1 variant growth and its symptoms, while ignoring other important factors such as vaccine efficacy and hospitalization rates.
Fallacies
(75%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing Dr. Ben Singer as a source for information about the JN.1 variant and its symptoms without providing any context or qualification of his expertise.
> There's good news and bad news with flu and COVID-19 cases across the country: Flu is trending down <br> The CDC's latest projections show that percentage has doubled in about a month. Now an estimated 86% of cases are from JN.1 — also called "Juno."
Research shows Juno's mutations make it easier to bypass the immunity we may already have <br> plus it can infect cells in the lower part of the lungs linked to pneumonias.
< The symptoms of pneumonia are generally going to be high fever, severe cough, shortness of breath and then even life-threatening things like low blood oxygen, low blood pressure and risk for having a secondary infection or a bacterial pneumonia that can occur on top of that viral pneumonia>
The CDC's latest COVID data shows cases are down 1% <br> Wastewater levels show much of the country still has very high spread. It's the worst in the South.
Bias
(75%)
The article contains examples of both religious and monetary bias. The author uses language that depicts the JN.1 variant as more severe than other variants, which could be seen as an attempt to create fear in readers and promote a particular narrative about the virus.
<br> > The symptoms of pneumonia are generally going to be high fever, severe cough, shortness of breath and then even life-threatening things like low blood oxygen, low blood pressure and risk for having a secondary infection or a bacterial pneumonia that can occur on top of that viral pneumonia.
> Flu is trending down <br> > COVID numbers are mixed <br> > The CDC's latest projections show that percentage has doubled in about a month. Now an estimated 86% of cases are from JN.1 — also called "Juno."
Research shows Juno's mutations make it easier to bypass the immunity we may already have plus it can infect cells in the lower part of the lungs linked to pneumonias.
The CDC's latest COVID data shows cases are down 1% <br> > Wastewater levels show much of the country still has very high spread. It's the worst in the South.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Lindsey Theis has a conflict of interest on the topic of COVID-19 and flu as she is reporting for Northwestern Medicine. She also has a personal relationship with Dr. Ben Singer who may have influenced her coverage.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of COVID-19 and flu as they are reporting for Northwestern Medicine. The article also mentions Dr. Ben Singer who is an expert in infectious diseases at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
