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Philippines detects 3 more cases of omicron subvariant XBB.1.5; total now 6

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt=" Colorized scanning electron micrograph of a cell (red) infected with the omicron strain of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles (blue), isolated from a patient sample. Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. NIAID" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/03/02/omicron-niaid-03022023.jpg"/><figcaption>Colorized scanning electron micrograph of a cell (red) infected with the omicron strain of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles (blue), isolated from a patient sample. Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. NIAID</figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA —The Philippines has detected 3 additional cases of omicron subvariant XBB.1.5, raising its tally to 6, according to the Department of Health.</p><p>The new XBB.1.5 infections are local cases, the DOH&#x27;s latest COVID-19 biosurveillance report showed.</p><p>XBB.1.5, dubbed the &quot;Kraken,&quot; is the most transmissible COVID-19 subvariant so far, experts have said.</p><p>The DOH also detected 118 new cases of omicron subvariants.</p><p>These include 60 cases of BA.2.3.20, 30 cases of XBB, 8 cases of XBC and 20 cases tagged as other omicron sublineages.</p><p>These are results of the latest sequencing run conducted by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and the University of the Philippines - Philippine Genome Center Mindanao from Feb. 20 to 24, the agency said.</p><p>Of the additional BA.2.3.20 cases, 59 were local cases from Regions 2, 3, 4B, 11, 12, and NCR while one case was classified as a returning overseas Filipino, the DOH said.</p><p>Among the 33 recently reported XBB cases, 1 case was an ROF while 32 were local cases from Regions 3, 4B, 11, 12, and Caraga, including 3 XBB.1.5 cases. </p><p>Meanwhile, all additional XBC cases were local cases from Regions 4B, 11, and 12, the DOH added.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/28/23/doh-health-workers-seniors-to-get-first-crack-at-bivalent-jabs">DOH: Health workers, senior citizens to get first crack at bivalent vaccines</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/02/28/23/higit-1-m-dose-ng-bivalent-vaccine-inaasahang-darating-sa-ph">Higit 1 milyong dose ng bivalent vaccine inaasahang darating sa PH</a></li></ul><p>To date, the BA.5 is still the dominant strain in the Philippines, with 12,721 cases.</p><p>As of March 1, the Philippines has 9,230 active COVID-19 cases.</p><p>Since the pandemic started, the country has recorded 4,076,418 coronavirus infections, of which 66,118 resulted in deaths.</p><p>To date, more than 73.8 million Filipinos are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.</p><p>Of the figure, some 21.5 million people have received their first boosters while 3.9 million have gotten their second boosters.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/03/01/23/fbi-director-covid-most-likely-caused-by-wuhan-lab-accident">FBI director says COVID &#x27;most likely&#x27; caused by Wuhan lab accident</a></li></ul><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=2485897" 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><div> </div>

The Philippines has detected 3 additional cases of omicron subvariant XBB.1.5, raising its tally to 6, according to the Department of Health.