DOH: HK coronavirus variant most common among 1,227 samples sequenced

The Hong Kong coronavirus variant or the B.1.1.63 lineage was the most commonly detected variant in the 1,227 samples that have undergone genome sequencing as of February 7, the Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday.

“‘Pag sinabi mo kasing variant, ‘yung gene mo, nagbago siya and it becomes the cause of several mutations na nangyayari po within that gene,” DOH Epidemiology Bureau Director Alethea De Guzman said in a virtual briefing.

The following variants were detected in the 1,227 samples sequenced:

354 or 29% were positive for the Hong Kong variant

230 or 19% had the European variant (B.1.1 lineage)

154 or 13% had the United Arab Emirates variant (B.1.1.263 lineage)

70 or 6% had the Brazilian variant (B.1.1.28 lineage)

25 or 2% had the UK variant (B.1.1.7)

25 or 2% had the England, Botswana, and Lithuania variant (B.1.1.220)

25 or 2% had the B.1.5 lineage

22 or 2% had the Indian variant (B.6 lineage)

19 or 2% had the Spanish variant (B.1.74)

168 or 14% had other lineages

No coronavirus variant was detected in the remaining 11% or 135 samples.

Meanwhile, Prof. Guido David from the OCTA Research group said the more transmissible UK variant increased the reproduction number of the coronavirus in countries where it has been detected.

“In fact, we’re seeing that pattern in some LGUs. We’re not seeing that pattern in Metro Manila right now so it gives us hope that it’s not spreading widespread here in Metro Manila based on the patterns that we’re seeing,” he said.

“We did see that pattern in Mountain Province, that’s why we suggested the possibility early on that it might be spreading there. Right now, we’re seeing those patterns in Cebu City,” he added.

Out of the 25 UK variant cases recorded so far, 18 came from the Cordillera region while one came from Talisay City in Cebu. 

Twenty-two of the said cases have recovered from COVID-19, one died, and two other cases remain active. 

The government’s inter-agency COVID-19 task force earlier formed a panel of experts to monitor new coronavirus variants.—LDF,GMA News