DOH: Possible for a person to be infected with two Covid-19 variants

MANILA, Philippines — It is possible for a person to be infected with two variants of the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday.

This comes after researchers in southern Brazil said they have discovered patients infected with two different variants of the virus at the same time.

“Weeks ago noong nag-uusap po ang [Inter-Agency] Task Force [for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases] on COVID-19 variants, ang ating mga eksperto ay nagsabi na rin na mayroon talagang probability o may posibilidad na magkaroon ng dalawang klaseng variant ang isang tao,” DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a press briefing.

(Weeks ago, when the IATF also discussed the Covid-19 variants, experts also said there is a possibility that a person may have two kinds of new coronavirus variants.)

Vergeire, however, said they have not detected any such case yet in the Philippines.

The findings on the co-infection with two variants, according to Vergeire, needs further study, including its possible implications on the enduring pandemic.

READ: Brazil researchers find people infected with 2 different coronavirus variants

So far, the country has recorded 17 cases of the more infectious B.1.1.7 variant of SARS-CoV-2 that was first detected in the United Kingdom.

The Philippine Genome Center (PCG) currently processes 48 Covid-19 positive samples per week for genome sequencing, following a delay in the supply of reagents needed for the process.

Vergeire said PGC will be able to process 750 specimens a week again by next week, to see if select samples of Covid-19 patients are positive of the new variant.

KGA