Increase in COVID-19 cases may be partly due to mutated virus —UP expert

The mutated version of the novel coronavirus may have contributed to the increase in COVID-19 cases in the country as it is reportedly more infectious, an infectious disease expert from the University of the Philippines (UP) said Tuesday.

Interviewed on Unang Hirit, Dr. Edsel Salvana of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology – UP said the new version is called D614G or G variant.

“Batay po sa behavior, nakikita po natin tumataaas po ang number of cases overall. Malamang na kasama po 'yun sa dahilan, yung pagpasok ng mutation na 'to,” Salvana said.

A Reuters report in June said genetic mutation in the new coronavirus that significantly increases its ability to infect cells may explain why outbreaks in Northern Italy and New York.

Scientists at Scripps Research in Florida say the mutated virus was seen infrequently in March, but by April accounted for some 65% of cases submitted from around the world to the GenBank database run by the National Institutes of Health

Citing such foreign reports, Salvana said the original virus has been slowly being replaced by the G variant. He said 95% of cases in the world have been due to the mutated virus since June.

“Batay nga po sa pag-aaral, sa mga lab animals, at 'yung nakita po namin na pag-replace, mukhang mas infectious po talaga ito,” he said.

He, however, said there is no proof yet that the G variant is deadlier.

In the Philippines, however, Salvana said only eight viruses had been studied in March and they were all found to be the original virus.

“Kaunti pa lang kasi 'yung nase-sequence natin na mga viruses. Sa katotohanan, walo pa lang 'yung meron tayong genetic sequences and these are from March. At lahat ito 'yung original na virus,” he said.

“May ginagawa pong pag-aaral ang DOST (Department of Science and Technology) at ang Philippine Genome Center pero hindi pa po nari-release 'yung ating mga sequences sa ngayon,” Salvana added.

Due to this, Salvana said the public should be more cautious especially that the government has already relaxed quarantine restrictions to give way to businesses in a bid to reopen the economy.

On Monday, the Philippines recorded 1,258 “fresh” COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 46,333 with 12,185 recoveries and 1,303 fatalities, according to the Department of Health. —KBK, GMA News