Philippines detects first cases of XBB subvariant, XBC variant | ABS-CBN

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Philippines detects first cases of XBB subvariant, XBC variant

Philippines detects first cases of XBB subvariant, XBC variant

Davinci Maru,

ABS-CBN News

 | 

Updated Oct 18, 2022 09:25 PM PHT

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Creative rendition of SARS-CoV-2, displaying 3D prints of virus particles (colorized blue and pink; the blue virus surface is covered with pink spike proteins that enable the virus to enter and infect human cells), and a background image that is a colorized scanning electron micrograph of a cell (red) infected with the Omicron strain of the virus (blue). Note: not to scale. Credit: NIAID
Creative rendition of SARS-CoV-2, displaying 3D prints of virus particles (colorized blue and pink; the blue virus surface is covered with pink spike proteins that enable the virus to enter and infect human cells), and a background image that is a colorized scanning electron micrograph of a cell (red) infected with the Omicron strain of the virus (blue). Note: not to scale. Credit: NIAID

MANILA (2nd UPDATE) — The Philippines has detected its first confirmed cases of the Omicron XBB subvariant and XBC variant, the Department of Health announced Tuesday.

According to DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, some 81 cases of XBB were detected in Western Visayas and Davao Region.

Of the figure, 70 have recovered and 8 are still undergoing isolation while the status of the remaining 3 cases is still being verified. None have died from XBB.

The Omicron XBB subvariant is a recombinant of BJ.1 (BA.2.10.1 sublineage) and BM.1.1.1 (BA.2.75 sublineage).

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It has been the primary cause of the new COVID-19 spikes in Singapore, the DOH said.

According to the Singaporean Ministry of Health, there is no sufficient evidence that the XBB causes more severe illness.

"So far, the large majority of patients continue to report mild symptoms such as sore throat or slight fever, especially if they have been vaccinated," the MOH said in a statement.

The DOH said currently available evidence for XBB does not suggest any difference in disease severity or clinical manifestations compared to the original omicron variant.

XBC VARIANT

Meanwhile, some 193 cases of XBC were detected in 11 regions. These are in Region 2, 6, 7, 11, 12, 4A, 4B, BARMM, CAR, Caraga and NCR.

Of the figure, 176 have recovered, 3 are still undergoing isolation and 5 died while the outcomes of the remaining 9 cases are still being verified.

The XBC variant is a recombinant of delta and BA.2 variants, the DOH said.

The XBC is under monitoring and investigation by the United Kingdom Health Security Agency.

But other global health agencies such as the World Health Organization and the European Centers for Disease Control have yet to determine the risk this variant poses, the DOH added.

COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION?

The DOH said it could not declare yet if some parts of the country are experiencing community transmission of the XBB and XBC variants.

"Sa ngayon, ating vine-verify ang profile ng bawat individual na meron nitong XBB at XBC variant," Vergeire said.

(We are verifying the profile of each individual who had the XBB and XBC variant.)

She added, "What we can say right now because there are this number already of XBB and XBC, it's part of the locally transmitted variants already in the country."

Philippine Genome Center executive director Dr. Cynthia Saloma disclosed that the earliest detections of XBB and XBC in the country were on Sept. 20 and Aug. 24, respectively.

Vergeire assured that the DOH's epidemiology and surveillance units are continuously conducting local surveillance and case investigations.

She added that the PGC and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine have been sequencing at least 750 samples per week.

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