MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday reported that the first case of the most contagious XBB.1.5 Omicron subvariant was local.
“Itong XBB.1.5 na case is a Filipino, local siya na detection. There were no histories [of any travel], unknown ang kaniyang exposure,” said DOH officer in charge Maria Rosario Vergeire in a media forum.
(The XBB.1.5 case is a Filipino; he was locally detected and had no travel history. Therefore, his exposure was unknown.)
Vergeire, however, said that the infected patient experienced only moderate symptoms and fully recovered after their sample was taken on January 9.
The XBB.1.5 is a recombinant of the BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75 sub-lineages and has already caused substantial harm in the United States due to its immunity evasion properties.
CH.1.1. also being monitored
In the same discussion, Vergeire reassured the public that the DOH is keeping a close eye on the CH.1.1 orthros omicron subvariant of COVID-19, which is thought to be similar to the delta variant.
The most up-to-date COVID-19 biosurveillance data from the DOH also includes three examples of the mentioned variation.
“Ito po ngayon ay isa sa mga binabantayan and actually the World Health Organization has already classified it as a variant under monitoring,” said Vergeire.
(This is now one of those being monitored and actually, the World Health Organization has already classified it as a variant under monitoring.)
“Ito po ay binabantayan, especially ngayon, when they are estimating or forecasting that it will spread in the UK in the coming weeks,” she added.
(This is being watched, especially now, when they estimate or forecast that it will spread in the UK in the coming weeks.)
She said that no cases of this subvariant generating life-threatening illnesses had been seen outside the United States.
Hospitals affiliated with the DOH report a rate of severe or critical cases that is much below 10%, hence there has been no nationwide increase in these instances.