Push Admin

Philippines detects first cases of XBB subvariant, XBC variant

Article (news)

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

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

News

Philippines detects first cases of XBB subvariant, XBC variant

Davinci Maru,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 18, 2022 03:15 PM PHT

|

Updated October 18, 2022 09:25 PM PHT

Read More:

health

Department of Health

DOH

COVID-19

COVID19

coronavirus

XBB subvariant

XBC subvariant

omicron

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

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.