Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 25) — The country has detected cases of the “stealth Omicron” sub-lineage, the Department of Health confirmed on Tuesday.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the stealth Omicron or BA.2 is the predominant sub-lineage in most regions based on the latest genome sequencing run. She said this sub-lineage is more common in local Omicron cases detected in the country.
The other sub-lineage, the BA.1, has been detected in 8 regions and it is now predominant in the Bicol Region and among returning overseas Filipinos.
The official stressed there is no significant difference in the “clinical presentation” between the two Omicron sub lineages.
As of Jan. 19, at least 535 Omicron cases have been confirmed in the country.
Vergeire earlier said WHO and other experts across the globe are still studying the stealth Omicron, but initial findings have shown that patients infected with this subvariant experienced symptoms similar to those who had the Omicron variant.
There seems to be no difference when it comes to the severity of illness, but more studies have yet to be made to bring out more information on its transmissibility, she added.
The UK Health Security Agency has so far classified BA.2 as a “variant under investigation,” one level below a variant of concern, after a significant rise in its detection.
Vergeire said BA.1 is the more dominant sub-lineage worldwide, but cases of the BA.2 sub-lineage are quickly increasing.
This is a developing story.
