Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 19) — The Department of Health has detected the first case of FE.1 subvariant of the COVID-19 Omicron strain in the Philippines.
The lone case of the XBB sublineage was recorded through whole genome sequencing on 2,340 samples conducted from May 29 to June 12.
The agency did not say in its report where the case was detected.
“However, currently available evidence for the variant does not suggest any differences in disease severity and/or clinical manifestations compared to the original Omicron variant. Limited information is available for the variant and researchers are currently characterizing FE.1 in terms of transmissibility, immune evasion, and ability to cause more severe disease,” the DOH said.
Citing sequencing submissions from the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data, the DOH said that FE.1 has been detected in 35 countries or jurisdictions across six continents.
It was classified as a variant under monitoring by the European Center for Disease Control (ECDC) last June 1, meaning “there is some indication that they could have properties similar to those of a VOC [variant of concern], but the evidence is weak or has not yet been assessed by ECDC.”
Meanwhile, the DOH noted in its latest variant monitoring that 82.91% or 1,940 samples out of 2,340 tested were XBB sublineages.
OCTA Research fellow Guido David on Sunday noted that the nationwide, seven-day COVID-19 positivity rate stood at 8.6%, while the positivity rate in the National Capital Region was 7.3% as of June 17.
Covid 7-day testing positivity rates decreased in most provinces in Luzon as of June 17. Palawan and Pangasinan had upticks in positivity rate. In NCR, Rizal and Bulacan, the positivity rates decreased below 10%. #covid19 @dzbb @DZAR1026 @ali_sotto pic.twitter.com/MhaiDj8A2j
— Dr. Guido David (@iamguidodavid) June 19, 2023
