Philippines detects 929 more Omicron subvariant cases

The Philippines has detected 929 additional cases of various Omicron subvariants, according to the Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday.

In a forum report, the DOH reported 889 additional cases of the BA.5 subvariant based in the latest sequencing results as of August 26 to 29.

Of this number, 211 new cases came from Western Visayas, followed by 126 cases in the National Capital Region (NCR), 111 in Central Luzon, 74 each in Bicol Region and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), 60 in Calabarzon, 50 in Central Visayas, 38 in Ilocos Region, 33 in Cagayan Valley, 28 in Mimaropa, 25 in Soccsksargen, 24 in Zamboanga Peninsula, 15 each in Northern Mindanao and Caraga Region, and two cases in Davao Region, while three cases are returning overseas Filipinos (ROF).

There were also 16 new cases of the BA.4 subvariant, comprised of four cases in Soccsksargen, two each from the Ilocos Region, the Bicol Region, Central Visayas, and NCR, and one each from Central Luzon, Western Visayas, Calabarzon, and CAR.

Meanwhile, four cases of BA.2.12.1 variant were detected: one case each in Cagayan Valley, Zamboanga Peninsula, Calabarzon, and Mimaropa.

The DOH also reported one case each in Western Visayas and Central Visayas of BA.2.75 subvariant.

At least 18 cases of “other sublineages” were also detected, according to the DOH.

The BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants were added to the World Health Organization (WHO)’s monitoring list in March and designated as variants of concern by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control.

The BA.2.12.1, on the other hand, was also flagged by the United States Center for Disease Control due to the observed increasing cases in the United States.

The WHO has tagged the BA.2.75 as a "variant under monitoring,” which first emerged in India in May and has since spread to other countries like the United States, Britain, Australia, and Netherlands. — BM, GMA News