India, Nov. 12 -- A new COVID-19 variant called PJ.2.1 is showing up in more countries, prompting scientists to take a closer look. First identified in Ontario, Canada, on May 2, 2026, it has since been detected in parts of North America, Europe, Asia and the Pacific.
What has caught researchers' attention?
PJ.2.1 carries an unusually large number of changes in its spike protein, the part of the virus that helps it enter human cells.
But does that mean it is more dangerous? Not necessarily. So far, there is no clear evidence that PJ.2.1 causes more severe illness or leads to more hospitalisations and deaths. Here is what we know about the variant and why scientists are monitoring it.
What Is the PJ.2.1 Variant?PJ.2.1 is a lineage of SAR...