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Coronavirus strain in PH likely to have originated from India, expert says

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/life/05/20/20200212-covid-19-generic-photos-niaid.jpg"/><figcaption>This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (round magenta objects) emerging from the surface of cells cultured in the lab. SARS-CoV-2, also known as 2019-nCoV, is the virus that causes COVID-19. The virus shown was isolated from a patient in the US. <em>NIAID-RML</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - The strain of the SARS-CoV-2, which is the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), in the Philippines could have originated from India, a health expert said Wednesday. </p><p>Using publicly shared genome sequences, the most genetically-related virus in the Philippines came from the South Asian nation, said Dr. Edsel Salvaña, a member of the government&#x27;s Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) technical advisory group. </p><p>“Hindi natin alam kung Indian ‘yon or may nag-travel lang sa India. Basta alam natin ‘yong pinaka-related na virus na parang mother virus na nandito sa atin ngayon actually originated from India,” he told Teleradyo.</p><p>He said the Philippines has sequenced 12 genomes so far from the more than 10,000 others worldwide. A genome is an organism&#x27;s complete set of DNA, which is called RNA for viruses.</p><p>The virus strain that came from India could have caused the outbreak in the Philippines that started in March, he said.</p><p>“Puwedeng may nag-travel, kahit anong nationality. Dumaan muna siya sa India, tapos nahawa siya do’n tapos na-introduce niya sa Pilipinas or may isang Pilipino na nasa India tapos binalik niya after siya nag-tour,” said Salvaña, also the director of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the University of the Philippines - National Institutes of Health.</p><p>He also stressed that the virus’ family tree appeared in China. It traveled to Australia before stopping in India.</p><p>“‘Yong sa India, nanggaling sa Australia and then ‘yong galing sa Australia galing sa China. So umikot muna siya ng mundo bago siya dumating sa atin,” Salvaña said.</p><p>Health experts have said genetic sequencing could help scientists understand the mutation of the virus strain, locate its origins and the development of vaccine.</p><p>To date, the Philippines has recorded 13,221 coronavirus infections, with 842 deaths and 2,932 recoveries.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/20/20/philippines-number-of-coronavirus-cases-covid19-second-wave-doh-tally-as-of-may-20">Philippines&#x27; COVID-19 cases soar past 13,000, majority remains &#x27;active cases&#x27;</a></li></ul><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1378284" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>A health expert said Wednesday the version of the SARS-CoV-2, which is the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), in the Philippines could have originated from India.</p>

A health expert said Wednesday the version of the SARS-CoV-2, which is the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), in the Philippines could have originated from India.