According to the latest Covid-19 Biosurveillance Report from the Department of Health (DOH), out of the 137 samples sequenced from April 12 to 19, 130 were identified as Omicron subvariants, specifically from the XBB sublineages.
“From March 2023 onwards, XBB and its sublineages were the most detected variant, comprising 63.06 percent of samples sequenced with assigned lineages,” said the DOH.
Out of the total 137 samples sequenced, 82 were identified as XBB sublineages, with 80 being local cases and two being returning overseas Filipinos (ROF). Of these, 33 were XBB.1.9.1 cases, 24 were XBB.1.5 cases, and one was an XBB.1.16 case.
There were also 30 samples classified as BA.2.3.20, with all being local cases from Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, Soccsksargen, Caraga, and National Capital Region (NCR).
Another 12 samples were tagged as BA.5, including 2 BQ.1 cases, with all being local cases from Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Soccsksargen, Caraga and NCR.
Three samples, on the other hand, were classified as XBC and are all local cases from Soccsksargen.
The last three samples were tagged by the DOH as “other Omicron sublineages.”
Meanwhile, seven samples subjected to genome sequencing have no lineages assigned by the DOH.
With the XBB subvariant now being the most detected in the country, an infectious disease expert believes it is causing the recent spike in Covid-19 cases.
In a televised public briefing, Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) Vice President Dr Rontgene Solante said it is not impossible for the XBB to cause the recent increasing transmission in the country.
“I would highly expect that this increase in cases is driven by the XBB sublineage of the Omicron,” said Solante.
“Whether it’s the XBB.1.5 or the XBB.1.16 or the XBB.1.9.1 – these are all variants of interest so there is always a possibility that they can cause an increase in the cases among our population,” he added.
And given the possibility of another wave of Covid-19 cases, he said they are encouraging the public to choose to wear their face masks.
“As long as there are these variants of interest, we will continue to encourage people to wear their face masks,” said Solante. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)