Severe Sore Throat: New Coronavirus Variant PJ.2.1 Spreads Around the World

The PJ.2.1 coronavirus variant is spreading in various countries around the world. Cases of infection have already been reported in the United States, Canada, and several European countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported the spread of the virus.

Infectious disease specialists say that symptoms of infection with this variant resemble those of the common cold, flu, and other seasonal respiratory infections. Experts highlight the following characteristic symptoms:

• a very severe sore throat;
• prolonged asthenia — weakness and lack of energy that persist for a long time after recovering from the illness.

PJ.2.1 was first detected in May 2026. The WHO warns that the likelihood of further spread is increasing amid heavy international passenger traffic.

We previously reported:

• New COVID is already in Ukraine: Ministry of Health confirms first case of “Cicada”
• New virus strain already in 23 countries: will “Cicada” bring back restrictions and masks worldwide?
• “Flirt” strikes: new coronavirus strain spreading across Ukraine
• Ukraine records first case of new “Pirola” coronavirus strain
• “It’s all internet talk,” says Mykolaiv region’s chief sanitary doctor about a possible outbreak of a new COVID-19 strain