The Philippines has detected 54 cases of Omicron subvariant XBB.1.9.1, which is classified by the World Health Organization as a "variant under monitoring," the Department of Health (DOH) said.
This subvariant is a "XBB sublineage that was recently added to the list of variants under monitoring by the WHO last March 30," the DOH stated in its latest Covid-19 biosurveillance report.
Based on the sequenced positive samples by the University of the Philippines - Philippine Genome Center last April 3 to 11, only 39 cases of XBB.1.9.1 were shown. Meanwhile, the DOH has yet to provide information on the 15 other cases.
The DOH defined variants under monitoring as a "SARS-CoV-2 variant with genetic changes that are suspected to affect virus characteristics and early signals of growth advantage relative to other circulating variants. Epidemiological impact remains unclear and additional monitoring is required to reassess risk of the variant."
"The variant was initially flagged due to its increasing global prevalence and higher growth advantage. The variant has been detected in 63 countries or jurisdictions across six continents," the DOH said.
"However, currently available evidence for XBB.1.9.1 does not suggest any differences in disease severity and/or clinical manifestations compared to the original Omicron variant," it added.
There is still "limited information" available at present regarding this Omicron subvariant, the DOH said.
"Researchers are currently characterizing the variant in terms of transmissibility, immune evasion, and ability to cause more severe disease," it added.
Meanwhile, the DOH also reported cases of other Omicron subvariants. Of the 119 sequenced positive samples, 75 were tagged as XBB, including 30 XBB.1.5 cases; 70 as BA.2.3.20; two cases as XBC, one case as CH.1.1, one case as BQ.1, and one case as BA.2.