FILE PHOTO: This undated transmission electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2, also known as novel coronavirus, the virus that causes COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S. NIAID-RML/Handout via REUTERS.
MANILA, Philippines — Amid the latest coronavirus surge in the country, the Department of Health on Monday said that the most recent discovery of new variants such as the IHU, Deltacron or Delmicron SARS-Cov-2 in other parts of the world have yet to be detected in the country.
SARS-CoV-2 is the same virus that causes COVID-19.
“Currently, no recorded cases here in the Philippines. Our experts are still studying this,” the DOH said in a statement.
Dr. Edsel Salvana, a member of the DOH-Technical Advisory Group, earlier explained that the B.1.640.2 or the IHU variant is neither a variant of concern nor interest, citing the World Health Organization (WHO).
The IHU variant, first discovered in France, has 46 mutations.
Meanwhile, the Delmicron or Deltacron, coined to combine two prominent variants that drove COVID-19 surges around the world, is not a new COVID-19 variant, the DOH earlier clarified, but rather the phenomenon of COVID-19 spread in an area brought about by the Delta and Omicron variants.
On the other hand, flurona, or co-infection of COVID-19 and influenza, is not a cause for panic as co-infection is not unusual, the DOH previously explained.
With the recent reports of the alleged variants, the DOH said that the WHO is the sole agency responsible for validation.
“In line with the recent reports regarding alleged variants of COVID 19 – Deltacron/Delmicron, flurona, and IHU variants, the Department of Health would like to clarify that the World Health Organization (WHO) is the sole authority to validate these variants and to determine if it is a Variant under Monitoring (VUM), Variant of Interest (VOI), or Variant of Concern,” it said.