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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOH reports PH's first case of omicron XBF subvariant

DOH reports PH's first case of omicron XBF subvariant

Published Feb 15, 2023 05:03 pm

Photo from Pixabay/ MANILA BULLETIN

A case of omicron subvariant XBF has been detected in the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.

The Philippines' first case of XBF subvariant was found in the result of the genome sequence conducted last Jan. 28, the DOH said.

This subvariant was associated with the recent increase in Covid-19 cases in Australia and Sweden, the DOH said.

It noted that XBF "accounts for approximately 55 percent of total cases detected in Victoria, Australia."

"Preliminary studies also show that many of Australia’s antiviral treatments against Covid-19 were no longer effective against multiple Omicron subvariants circulating in the country, including XBF," the DOH said

"However, currently available evidence for XBF does not suggest any differences in disease severity and/or clinical manifestations compared to the original Omicron variant," it added.

Meanwhile, two new cases of Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 were also detected, raising the number of cases to three. This was based on the genome sequencing result conducted last Feb. 7 to 9.

Out of the recent 69 samples sequenced, the DOH said that 26 were classified as XBB (including two cases classified as XBB.1.5), 10 as BA.2.3.20, three as BA.5 (including one case classified as BQ.1), two as BA.2.75, one case as XBC, and 20 as other Omicron sublineages.

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Department of Health (DOH) XBF SUBVARIANT
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