Philippines records first cases of COVID variants XBB.1.5, CH.1.1 | ABS-CBN

ADVERTISEMENT

dpo-dps-seal
Welcome, Kapamilya! We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. Continuing to use this site means you agree to our use of cookies. Tell me more!

Philippines records first cases of COVID variants XBB.1.5, CH.1.1

Philippines records first cases of COVID variants XBB.1.5, CH.1.1

Davinci Maru,

ABS-CBN News

 | 

Updated Feb 08, 2023 12:08 AM PHT

Clipboard

NIAID
Colorized scanning electron micrograph of a cell (red) infected with the Omicron strain of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles (yellow), isolated from a patient sample. Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Credit: NIAID

MANILA (2nd UPDATE) — The Philippines has confirmed its first case of the omicron subvariant XBB.1.5, which experts said is the most transmissible form of COVID-19, a Department of Health report showed on Tuesday.

Out of 1,078 samples sequenced by health authorities from Jan. 30 to Feb. 3, 196 were classified as XBB, including 1 case of XBB.1.5, the DOH said in its latest biosurveillance report.

The XBB cases were found in all regions except Region 8 and the Bangsamoro, the report showed.

The DOH said the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control classified XBB.1.5, an offshoot of the XBB subvariant, "as a variant of interest due to its increasing prevalence globally and enhanced immune-evading properties."

ADVERTISEMENT

The variant has been detected in 59 countries across 6 continents, according to sequence submissions in GISAID, a global platform for COVID-19 data.

Based on estimates from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the subvariant accounted for 66.4 percent of cases in the US from Jan. 29 to Feb. 4, 2023.

According to the rapid risk assessment conducted by the World Health Organization, there is moderate-strength evidence for increased risk of transmission and immune escape, the DOH report read.

However, currently available evidence for XBB.1.5 does not suggest any differences in disease severity and clinical manifestations compared to the original omicron variant, it added.

"Currently, the subvariant is still reported under XBB by the WHO and will remain classified under omicron until sufficient evidence arises showing that the virus characteristics are significantly different from omicron," the DOH said.

CH.1.1 SUBVARIANT

The country has also detected its first cases of the new omicron variant CH.1.1, the same DOH report showed.

Results of the samples processed by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center revealed that 7 cases were identified as BA.2.75, including 3 cases classified as CH.1.1 and 3 cases classified as BN.1.

The recently detected BA.2.75 cases are all local cases from Regions 2, 4A, 4B, 11, and Metro Manila, the report read.

According to the DOH, the CH.1.1 subvariant, a descendant sublineage of BA.2.75, has been classified by the ECDC as a variant under monitoring "due to its increasing prevalence and potential for immune escape."

To date, the subvariant has already been detected in 71 countries across 6 continents, citing sequence submissions to GISAID.

"The subvariant, along with XBB.1.5, is most likely to predominate in the UK following BQ.1," the DOH said.

Currently available evidence for the subvariant does not suggest any differences in disease severity or clinical manifestations compared to the original omicron variant, it added.

DOH reiterated its reminder for everyone to comply with minimum public health standards, get vaccinated and/or boosted, and to know the individual risk assessment in all activities.

It also clarified that even with the detection of new variants and subvariants, the number of COVID-19 cases in hospitals, as well as severe and critical cases remain manageable.

RELATED VIDEO

Watch more News on iWantTFC

ADVERTISEMENT

DMW coordinating with BOC for release of undistributed Balikbayan boxes

DMW coordinating with BOC for release of undistributed Balikbayan boxes

Pia Gutierrez,

ABS-CBN News

Clipboard


MANILA — The Department of Migrant Workers said Monday it would assist families of OFWs who have been affected by the delayed shipment of thousands of Balikbayan boxes to the Philippines. 

“They have been victimized, and we will provide action fund assistance as well,” DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said in a televised briefing.

The DMW has been working closely with the Bureau of Customs to facilitate the release of the estimated 14,000 Balikbayan boxes, he said.

“Sa ngayon nakikipagtulungan tayo sa Bureau of Customs. We are thankful sa BOC dahil na-facilitate na ang release ng 9,000 boxes. But there are around 5,000 more to go, half of them are in the Davao port. We are thankful sa BOC, may deed of donation na ido-donate sa atin at tayo na ang magdi-distribute, so isasagawa natin yon,” he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Dito sa Manila, we are working on the same deed of donation system, pero ang maganda dahil sa hearing noong isang araw, nakita natin na pwede pala yung system na puntahan mo nalang sa warehouse, around 40 boxes were released the other day. This will be just the beginning of the continued distribution, so 9,000 now, 5,000 more to go," he added.


RELATED VIDEO: 



ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

It looks like you’re using an ad blocker

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker on our website.

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker on our website.