DOH: 1,382 new Omicron subvariant cases detected from June 26 to June 29

More than a thousand additional cases of various Omicron subvariants were detected in the Philippines by late June, according to Department of Health (DOH) data.

Based on the DOH’s latest COVID-19 biosurveillance report, 1,382 fresh cases of Omicron subvariants were found in the samples sequenced by the Baguio General Hospital Medical Center and the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center Visayas from June 26 to June 29.

Of these cases, 1,251 were classified as XBB—a variant under monitoring (VUM) by the World Health Organization (WHO) and a variant of interest (VOI) by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control.

Included under this subvariant were 139 XBB.1.5 cases; 217 XBB.1.16 cases; 366 XBB.1.9.1 cases; 60 XBB.1.9.2 cases; 326 XBB.2.3 cases; and 143 other XBB sublineages.

There were also 46 BA.2.3.20 cases; 35 BA.5 cases; six XBC cases, three BA.2.75 cases; one BA.4 case; and 40 other cases of Omicron sublineages.

The variants XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.16 are VOIs also identified by the WHO, while XBB, XBB.1.9.1, XBB.1.9.2, XBB.2.3, and BA.2.75 are considered VUMs.

The DOH said all detected XBB subvariants were local cases from all regions except Region 6, while BA.2.3.20 cases were from Regions 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B, 5, 7, 11, 12, CAR, Caraga, and NCR.

Meanwhile, detected BA.5 cases were from Regions 1, 2, 3, 4A, 5, 7, CAR, and NCR, while XBC cases were from Regions 1, 12, and NCR.

The three BA.2.75 cases were from Regions 4B, CAR, and NCR, and the lone BA.4 case was from Region 4B.

The Philippines on Saturday reported 347 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the active tally to 6,553. — DVM, GMA Integrated News