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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Public need not be alarmed over emergence of COVID-19 variants, says PGC exec

Public need not be alarmed over emergence of COVID-19 variants, says PGC exec

Published Sep 3, 2021 03:11 pm

(UNSPLASH)

Philippine Genome Center (PGC) Executive Director Dr. Cynthia Saloma on Friday, Sept. 3, advised the public not to be alarmed over the emergence of a number of coronavirus variants.

"From the scientific perspective and epidemiology, importante itong mga variants na ito kasi nata-track natin (these variants are important because we are able to track) if they are associated with increased transmissibility, immune evasion, as well as, if there is increased pathogenicity. Kaya lumalabas itong mga variants na ito (That's why these variants are emerging)," Saloma said in a virtual public briefing.

"Wag po tayo maalarma kasi yung mutation and the emergence of variants natural po yan sa evolution ng isang virus (Let's not be alarmed because the mutation and the emergence of variants are natural in the evolution of a virus)," she added.

Saloma said mutations happen whenever a virus multiplies or replicates as it transfers from one host to another.

"The process of mutation is really part of the viral evolutionary process kaya wag po tayo mabahala (The process of mutation is really part of the viral evolutionary process so let's not worry too much). Flinaflag lang po itong mga ito (We are just flagging them) as variants of concern or variants of interest or variants under investigation or variants under increased monitoring," she explained.

"Viral mutations, they emerge all the time. We will continue to observe these variants," she said

However, Saloma emphasized that getting vaccinated and observing minimum public health standards are still the best defenses against the emergence of COVID-19 variants.

The Mu variant, also known as B.1.621, was added to the World Health Organization's watchlist on Aug. 30 after it was detected in about 40 countries.

Saloma pointed out that the new coronavirus VOI, known as "Mu," has not been detected in the country yet based on the whole genome sequencing of over 12,000 local samples of the SARS-COV2 virus.

"We are always on stand by and we are continuing our monitoring of the entry of these variants in our borders," she said.

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covid-19 variants PHILIPPINE GENOME CENTER cynthia saloma
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