PH records first case of B.1.1.318 variant

MANILA, Philippines — Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Monday reported that the country has recorded its first case of B.1.1.318 variant.

According to Vergeire, B.1.1.318 is a COVID-19 variant under monitoring based on the classifications of the World Health Organization.

“This was initially identified or detected in Mauritius. Mayroon silang naging cluster of 120 cases do’n at nung kanilang nag-sequence ay ito po ang lumabas. Itong variant under monitoring na ito,” Vergeire said, adding that it has 14 mutations including those seen in Delta and Beta variants.

(They had a cluster of 120 cases there and this variant under monitoring is the result.)

The case that was detected in the Philippines is from a 34-year-old male who arrived in the country on March 5, 2021.

His sample was collected on March 10 from the Philippine Red Cross laboratory. He recovered on March 21.

The individual, whose address is in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, had a travel history in the United Arab Emirates.

Vergeire advised the public that there is no cause to panic despite the variant under monitoring.

“Let me just reiterate, it’s a variant under monitoring. Lahat po pinag-aaralan sa ngayon. Wala po tayong cause to panic. Kailangan lang po maging vigilant pa rin tayo lahat and follow our minimum public health standards,” she said.

(Everything is being studied so far. We have no cause to panic. We just have to remain vigilant and follow our minimum public health standards.)

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