Push Admin

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

Article (news)

Davinci Maru, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="NIAID" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/02/07/20230207-novel-coronavirus-sars-cov-2-niaid.jpg"/><figcaption>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. <em>Credit: NIAID</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA <strong>(2nd UPDATE) </strong>— 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.</p><p>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.</p><p>The XBB cases were found in all regions except Region 8 and the Bangsamoro, the report showed.</p><p>The DOH said the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control classified XBB.1.5, an offshoot of the XBB subvariant, &quot;as a variant of interest due to its increasing prevalence globally and enhanced immune-evading properties.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/01/06/23/xbb15-likely-to-be-the-next-major-covid-subvariant">XBB.1.5 likely to be the next major COVID subvariant</a></li></ul><p>The variant has been detected in 59 countries across 6 continents, according to sequence submissions in GISAID, a global platform for COVID-19 data. </p><p>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. </p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>&quot;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,&quot; the DOH said.</p><div><strong>CH.1.1 SUBVARIANT</strong></div><p>The country has also detected its first cases of the new omicron variant CH.1.1, the same DOH report showed.</p><p>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.</p><p>The recently detected BA.2.75 cases are all local cases from Regions 2, 4A, 4B, 11, and Metro Manila, the report read.</p><p>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 &quot;due to its increasing prevalence and potential for immune escape.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/07/23/ph-to-receive-300000-additional-bivalent-jabs">Philippines to receive 300,000 additional bivalent COVID-19 vaccines</a></li></ul><p>To date, the subvariant has already been detected in 71 countries across 6 continents, citing sequence submissions to GISAID.</p><p>&quot;The subvariant, along with XBB.1.5, is most likely to predominate in the UK following BQ.1,&quot; the DOH said.</p><p>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. </p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2415424" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

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.

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

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

News

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

Davinci Maru,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 07, 2023 03:02 PM PHT

|

Updated Feb 08, 2023 12:08 AM PHT

Read More:

health

Department of Health

DOH

COVID-19

COVID19

coronavirus

Philippines COVID-19 update

omicron

XBB.1.5

CH.1.1

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.