Philippines detects India coronavirus variant

The Philippines reported on Tuesday the detection of the B.1.617 coronavirus variant first discovered in India, following its classification as a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“Nais po nating ipaalam sa publiko na tayo po ay may natukoy na dalawang kaso na may sinabing variant (We wish to inform the public that we identified two cases with the said variant),” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a briefing.

Dr. Alethea De Guzman, chief epidemiologist of the Department of Health (DOH), said the two cases -- both overseas Filipino workers with no history of travel to India -- are now asymptomatic after recovering from COVID-19.

One case is a 37-year-old male who arrived from Oman on April 10. He was released from isolation in Metro Manila after recovering on April 26. He was found negative for COVID-19 in a repeat test on May 3 and is currently in Soccsksargen.

The other case is a 58-year-old male who arrived in the Philippines from the United Arab Emirates on April 19. He was released from isolation in Clark after being tagged as a recovered COVID-19 case on May 6. He is currently in Bicol.

“When they’re tagged as recovered, they’re no longer considered infectious,” infectious disease expert Dr. Edsel Salvaña said.

De Guzman added that neither case has close contacts as they were immediately quarantined upon arrival. Some of the passengers on the patients’ flights have tested negative for COVID-19. The DOH will verify the status of the other travelers.

'Variant of concern'

On Monday, B.1.617 became the fourth coronavirus variant to be classified as one “of concern,” joining the variants first detected in the United Kingdom (B.1.1.7), South Africa (B.1.351), and Brazil (P.1). 

WHO defines a variant of concern as one associated with increased transmissibility or “detrimental” change in COVID-19 epidemiology, increased virulence, or decreased effectiveness of health protocols, diagnostics, vaccines, or therapeutics.

While the B.1.617 contains mutations linked to heightened transmissibility, reduced antibody neutralization, and immune escape, preliminary evidence suggests that vaccines may still offer protection from it.

Dr. Marissa Alejandria, president of the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, said clinical management and health protocols will remain the same despite the detection of the new variant.

“It just underscores the fact that we really need to continue [the] intensified implementation of our border control measures… It’s not just implementation but also unified implementation across all our regions,” she said.  —KBK, GMA News