By Julia Mangmang and Raphaella Sarangaya

The country’s first case of the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.318 was detected from a 34-year-old male who currently resides in Bacolod City, Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire reported in a press briefing on Monday, October 24. 

The undersecretary stated that the sample taken was from an overseas Filipino worker who had travel history in the United Arab Emirates and had arrived in the country seven months ago. 

His sample was taken as part of the country’s “retroactive tracing”, an effort to determine which COVID-19 variants are already present in the Philippines. 

Vergeire also added that the DOH is eager to find out if the recently detected COVID-19 B.1.1.318 variant has already been prevalent in the country during the previous months in order to further analyze how the department can incorporate it in their response to the pandemic situation nationwide.

In a study conducted earlier this year, it was discovered that the B.1.1.318 variant was first detected on February 15, and as of June, is present in 34 countries. 

Although the variant originated from the United Kingdom, it is responsible for the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Mauritius. 

Despite this, Vergeire stated that COVID-19 variant B.1.1.318 is still being monitored according to the classifications of the World Health Organization. 

“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,” Vergeire said.

As of October 24, 2021, there are a total of 2,756,923 cases in the country with 60,957 active cases.

References:

Magsambol, B. (2021, October 25). Philippines reports 1st case of COVID-19 ‘variant under monitoring’ B.1.1.318. Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/nation/philippines-reports-first-case-covid-19-variant-under-monitoring-b11318?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1635143456-1

Mendoza, R. (2021, October 25). PH detects first case of new B1.1.318 variant. Manila Times. https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/10/25/news/ph-detects-first-case-of-new-b11318-variant/1819669