DOH detects 44 new cases of Omicron subvariants

The Department of Health (DOH) registered 44 new cases of Omicron subvariants based on the latest genome sequencing.

According to the latest genome sequencing of University of the Philippines - Philippine Genome Center Main last January 18, a total of 19 cases were classified as BA.2.3.20, eight were XBB, four were BA.5, and one case of BN.1 reported under BA.2.75.

The DOH also detected 12 cases of other Omicron sublineages.

The Health department said all additional BA.2.3.20 cases were local cases from Regions 1, 3, and 4A.

It said that the new XBB cases came from Regions 1, 3, 9, and the National Capital Region (NCR).

Meanwhile, the recently detected BN.1 case was a Returning Overseas Filipino (ROF), while of the four BA.5 cases detected, three were local cases from Region 3 and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and the remaining case was an ROF.

The DOH earlier said it was continuously monitoring, both at local and global levels, the prevalent Omicron subvariants with higher transmissibility.

The Health Department was monitoring two Omicron subvariants, BQ.1. and BA.2.75, based on the sequence submission, according to DOH-Epidemiology Bureau Director IV Dr. Alethea De Guzman.

De Guzman said the BQ.1.1 accounts for almost 14%, while the BA.2.75 accounts for around 17% of prevalence.—LDF, GMA Integrated News