New Covid-19 variant PJ.2.1 spreads from Canada to US and Asia
The saltation variant shows an increased ability to bind to human cells but does not significantly evade existing vaccine antibodies, according to reports.
The PJ.2.1 Covid-19 variant has spread to multiple countries after emerging in Ontario, Canada, on May 2, 2026, according to reports from Times of India, News18 and Firstpost. The variant has been detected in the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and Israel.
In the United States, the variant was first identified in a New York City patient on June 30. Subsequent cases were reported in California, Arizona, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri, Oklahoma, Colorado and Florida. In Spain, researchers found evidence of local transmission in Catalunya, the Basque Country and the Community of Madrid.
Researchers described PJ.2.1 as a saltation variant, which carries a large number of genetic changes in its spike protein. Laboratory findings published in the Journal of Infection suggest the variant has an increased ability to bind to the ACE2 receptor to enter human cells, which may contribute to its rapid spread.
While the variant shows a potentially higher ability to infect cells, early studies indicate it does not significantly evade antibodies from updated vaccines. There is currently no clinical evidence to suggest that PJ.2.1 causes more severe illness, higher hospitalisation rates, or increased mortality than previous strains.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) noted that symptoms of the variant, such as fever, cough, and fatigue, overlap heavily with seasonal influenza. Medical experts state that diagnostic testing is required to distinguish the virus from other respiratory infections. It remains unclear if the variant has been detected in India.
