THE World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged continued diagnostic testing as a newly emerging COVID-19 variant, PJ.2.1, spreads internationally with symptoms that can be mistaken for influenza or the common cold.
The warning comes as the SARS-CoV-2 lineage, first identified in Ontario, Canada, in May 2026, has been detected across North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and parts of Asia.
WHO said symptoms alone were insufficient to reliably distinguish PJ.2.1 infections from other respiratory illnesses, stressing that diagnostic testing remained the most accurate way to identify the virus.
This is particularly important when confirmation of an infection could affect treatment decisions or public health measures.
The organisation said it was closely monitoring the variant amid concerns over its growing geographical spread.
Preliminary research published in the Journal of Infection suggests PJ.2.1 may have a growth advantage through increased binding to the ACE2 receptor, which enables the coronavirus to enter human cells, rather than through a substantial ability to evade vaccine-induced antibodies.
The variant carries multiple mutations in its spike protein, the structure responsible for facilitating infection.
Meanwhile, Russian infectious disease specialist and virologist Elena Malinnikova said infections involving PJ.2.1 could cause severe sore throat and prolonged fatigue during recovery compared with some other variants.
However, further research is needed to establish whether the variant causes more severe disease, spreads more easily or significantly reduces protection from existing immunity. - November 10, 2026
