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DOH: COVID-19 variant XBB not yet detected in Philippines

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Davinci Maru and Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Colorized scanning electron micrograph of a cell infected with the Omicron strain of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles (pink), isolated from a patient sample. Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Credit: NIAID" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/overseas/10/13/covid.jpg"/><figcaption>Colorized scanning electron micrograph of a cell infected with the Omicron strain of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles (pink), 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 (2nd UPDATE) — A new omicron subvariant known as XBB has not yet been detected in the Philippines, the Department of Health said Thursday.</p><p>According to the DOH, the XBB variant is a recombinant of BJ.1 (BA.2.10.1 sublineage) and BM.1.1.1 (BA.2.75 sublineage).</p><p>Preliminary studies suggest that the sublineage shows higher immune evasion ability than BA.5. The BA.5 is among two omicron subvariants that are partly driving a wave of new cases of the disease in Europe and the United States.</p><p>&quot;As of October 13, we have not detected the said variant in the Philippines,&quot; the DOH said in a statement.</p><p>&quot;The DOH, in partnership with our local sequencing facilities, is continuously conducting surveillance to monitor the importation of this variant and other emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants,&quot; it added.</p><p>The DOH made the remark when asked about the XBB variant, which has emerged in parts of the world, including Singapore.</p><p>The Ministry of Health (MOH) in Singapore reported this week an increase in local cases driven by XBB, including a post-weekend spike on Tuesday.</p><p>But the MOH in the same statement dismissed rumors that Singapore is experiencing a rapid and large increase in cases with severe illness and deaths due to the circulating XBB strain.</p><p>&quot;<a href="https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/moh-statement-in-response-to-xbb-falsehoods">This is not true</a>. We are initiating POFMA (Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act) action against such falsehoods,&quot; the MOH said.</p><p>The ministry also noted there is no evidence that the XBB variant causes severe illness.</p><p>&quot;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,&quot; the MOH said.</p><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=2287846" 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><strong>OTHER OMICRON SUBVARIANTS</strong></div><p>Aside from the XBB variant, health authorities are also keeping tabs on two other omicron subvariants called BQ.1 and BA.2.75.2. Both are under the World Health Organization&#x27;s list of &quot;omicron subvariants under monitoring&quot;.</p><p>Dr. Guido David of OCTA Research warned these variants are &quot;highly immune evasive&quot;.</p><p>&quot;So, kahit na nagkaroon ng prior infection, puwede pa ring magkaroon ng [COVID] o mahawaan,&quot; he said in a televised briefing.</p><p>As of Oct. 12, the Philippines has 24,283 active COVID-19 cases.</p><p>Since the pandemic began, it has recorded 3,973,091 infections, of which 63,363 led to death.</p><p>OCTA Research reported that Metro Manila&#x27;s COVID-19 positivity rate or the percentage of tests turning out positive for the virus decreased to 15 percent on Oct. 11.</p><p>However, positivity rates are &quot;very high&quot; in Camarines Sur, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, South Cotabato, Tarlac, and Zambales, the think tank said.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/12/22/doh-reports-1623-new-covid-19-cases-34-new-deaths">DOH reports 1,623 new COVID-19 cases, 34 new deaths</a></li></ul><div><strong>NO EVIDENCE THAT XBB CAUSES SEVERE SYMPTOMS: EXPERT</strong></div><p>Infectious disease specialist Dr. Rontgene Solante noted that based on available information, there is still no evidence the XBB variant causes more severe symptoms.</p><p>“More or less, sipon, ubo at pananakit sa lalamunan.... Singapore even [has] 75 percent boosted population, and yet they have this new variant. Kailangan pa rin natin mag-ingat, in terms of following the health protocol,” Solante said.</p><p>While the reported number of active COVID-19 infections in the country is declining, Solante expects the upcoming holiday gatherings to cause a slight increase in fresh COVID cases. </p><p>This will be “manageable,&quot; he said.</p><p>“The more people outside, the more people with gatherings, especially mga Undas at Christmas party, then the higher is the risk of exposure, and we would expect an increase in the cases, but I don’t expect cases that we had experienced in January,&quot; he explained.</p><p>Some local government units reminded residents who will visit cemeteries for the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day that when outdoor spaces become crowded, they will need to wear their face mask.</p><p>“Once we meet 50 percent (crowding) then we will announce na marami na tao, kailangan magsuot ng face mask. Sino ang magbabantay rito? Mag-aassign tayo ng San Juan Police, Public Order and Security Office, pati ‘yung personnel ng mga sementeryo,” San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said.</p><p>At the Manila North and South Cemeteries, unvaccinated individuals and children 12 years old and below will not be allowed entry.</p><p>The World Health Organization is currently tracking more than 300 Omicron sublineages.</p><p>&quot;We are tracking currently more than 300 sublineages of Omicron, which is the variant of concern that is dominant worldwide. Most of these subvariants are BA.5, sublineages of BA.5 or BA.2,&quot; WHO’s senior epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove said.</p><p>&quot;The director-general has been very clear that this is not over and that there is much more work that we need to do,” the expert added.</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=2282441" 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>

A new Omicron subvariant known as XBB has not yet been detected in the Philippines, the Department of Health said Thursday.

DOH: COVID-19 variant XBB not yet detected in Philippines

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DOH: COVID-19 variant XBB not yet detected in Philippines

Davinci Maru and Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 13, 2022 11:35 AM PHT

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Updated Oct 13, 2022 07:14 PM PHT

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