A new COVID-19 variant is spreading in North Carolina. Here’s what you need to know.

Every so often, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publishes a map that color codes each state according to how rampantly respiratory viruses are spreading.

States with low activity are colored bright green, while higher activity is denoted with darker shades of red. Right now, North Carolina is a deep purple on the map — the highest “level” on the CDC’s scale.

About 16% of all emergency department visits in the state were due to a respiratory virus, according to the most recent CDC data.

“That’s higher than it’s been in the last 18 months,” said Dr. David Weber, the head of infectious disease at UNC Medical Center.

Here’s what you need to know about the state of the current respiratory season:

Is there a surge in respiratory viruses right now?

Yes.

Weber said this peak is mostly driven by the flu but other respiratory viruses are still rampant. At UNC, for example, about 13% of patients who go to the hospital for a respiratory illness test positive for COVID-19.

“That is the highest level we’ve had in the months,” he said.

Weber said he expects respiratory infections to come down from its current peak but still expects “substantial respiratory viral activity” for the next six weeks.

That means if you haven’t been vaccinated yet, now would be a good time to get the most recent COVID-19 booster and flu shot. For older adults, the RSV vaccine is also important.

Does JN.1 cause more severe sickness?

JN.1 is the newly dominant COVID-19 strain in the United States and in North Carolina.

In the Southeast, the new variant makes up more than half of COVID-19 cases, according to the CDC.

Weber said the variant is better at evading our built-up immunity, but there is no current evidence that this variant causes more severe illness.

Those infected with JN.1 are not likely to notice any unique symptoms. Weber said the most common symptoms include a runny nose, a cough and nausea.

The recent booster shot for COVID-19 still protects well against this variant, according to a CDC report published last week.

How should you protect yourself?

Aside from vaccination, wearing a face mask is still the best way to protect yourself.

Weber said immunocompromised or elderly adults may consider wearing a well-fitted N95 mask, though most people will get good protection from a standard surgical mask.

He said anything that makes the surgical mask fit tighter — like pulling the straps behind your head and fastening them with a clip — will offer additional protection.

If you suspect you have the flu or COVID, Weber said not to hesitate with testing. Antiviral treatments, like Tamiflu or Paxlovid, often only work early in the infection.

“If you’re older or have cancer, it’s not really a good idea to say, let me see how I’m doing in two or three days,” he said.

Teddy Rosenbluth covers science and health care for The News & Observer in a position funded by Duke Health and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. The N&O maintains full editorial control of the work.

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