New COVID strain quickly becomes most dominant in U.S.

The fast-spreading COVID-19 variant known as JN.1 is now the most prevalent in the U.S., accounting for more than 44% of cases as the virus expands domestically and internationally.

The big picture: JN.1's surge suggests it's either more transmissible or better at evading our immune systems than other strains in circulation, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But it's too early to tell how much it will drive an increase in infections or hospitalizations this winter.

Driving the news: JN.1 estimates shot up from 21.3% to 44.2% over...