First Case of New COVID Variant Is Detected in the Philippines

PHOTO BY Jerome Ascano

The Department of Health confirmed on Monday, October 25, that the Philippines now has its a case of the coronavirus variant first reported in the island nation of Mauritius. This is being monitored by the World Health Organization.

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The B.1.1.318 variant was found in the sample that was taken from a 34-year-old male last March 10. It usually takes weeks, even months, to check for variants among positive samples.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared B.1.1.318 as "under monitoring" in June. This is different from variants of concern that are spreading or have spread and are given Greek names such as Delta.

"Let me just reiterate, it's a variant under monitoring. Lahat po pinag-aaralan sa ngayon, wala po tayong cause to panic. Kailangan lang po maging vigilant pa rin tayong lahat and follow our minimum public health standards," said Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire.

The variant was first detected in a cluster of 120 cases in Mauritius, a tourist island in the Indian Ocean. The WHO and international experts are closely monitoring mutations of B.1.1.318 which could affect vaccine efficacy, she said.

This story originally appeared on Reportr.world. Minor edits have been made by the editors.

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Source: Spot PH