JN.1: enhanced immune evasion ability propels it to become the predominant strain in China, unlikely to trigger pandemic similar to late 2022

We anticipate that JN.1 will replace XBB subbranches as the predominant epidemic variant in subsequent transmissions within China. However, it is unlikely to cause a large-scale spread comparable to that witnessed at the end of 2022, with transmission patterns potentially resembling those observed for XBB post-pandemic.