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Philippines detects first cases of XBB subvariant, XBC variant

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Davinci Maru, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="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" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/10/18/20221018-covid-file.jpg"/><figcaption>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. <em>Credit: NIAID</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA<strong> (2nd UPDATE)</strong> — The Philippines has detected its first confirmed cases of the Omicron XBB subvariant and XBC variant, the Department of Health announced Tuesday.</p><p>According to DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, some 81 cases of XBB were detected in Western Visayas and Davao Region.</p><p>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.</p><p>The Omicron XBB subvariant is a recombinant of BJ.1 (BA.2.10.1 sublineage) and BM.1.1.1 (BA.2.75 sublineage).</p><p>It has been the primary cause of the new COVID-19 spikes in Singapore, the DOH said.</p><p>According to the Singaporean Ministry of Health, there is no sufficient evidence that the XBB causes more 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 in a statement.</p><p>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.</p><div><strong>XBC VARIANT</strong></div><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>The XBC variant is a recombinant of delta and BA.2 variants, the DOH said.</p><p>The XBC is under monitoring and investigation by the United Kingdom Health Security Agency.</p><p>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.</p><div><strong>COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION?</strong></div><p>The DOH said it could not declare yet if some parts of the country are experiencing community transmission of the XBB and XBC variants.</p><p>&quot;Sa ngayon, ating vine-verify ang profile ng bawat individual na meron nitong XBB at XBC variant,&quot; Vergeire said. </p><p>(We are verifying the profile of each individual who had the XBB and XBC variant.)</p><p>She added, &quot;What we can say right now because there are this number already of XBB and XBC, it&#x27;s part of the locally transmitted variants already in the country.&quot;</p><p>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.</p><p>Vergeire assured that the DOH&#x27;s epidemiology and surveillance units are continuously conducting local surveillance and case investigations.</p><p>She added that the PGC and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine have been sequencing at least 750 samples per week.</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=2295989" 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 detected its first cases of the Omicron XBB subvariant and XBC variant, the Department of Health announced Tuesday.

Philippines detects first cases of XBB subvariant, XBC variant

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Philippines detects first cases of XBB subvariant, XBC variant

Davinci Maru,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 18, 2022 03:15 PM PHT

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Updated October 18, 2022 09:25 PM PHT

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health

Department of Health

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coronavirus

XBB subvariant

XBC subvariant

omicron

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