MANILA — There are 128 new cases of Omicron subvariants identified by the Department of Health (DOH) in the new genome sequencing from January 3 to 9.
In the latest biosurveillance report, 52 of the new cases were classified as BA.2.3.20, one case of BN.1, 10 cases of BA.5, 28 cases of XBB, 13 cases of XBC, and 24 other types of Omicron subvariants.
The 10 BA.5 cases include three BF.7 and one BQ.1.
A new case of the Delta variant was identified, when the sample was collected in mid-December 2022.
“All omicron variants tend to have a milder disease course as they settle less in the lungs and more in the upper nasal passages, causing symptoms like fever, tiredness, and loss of smell,” according to the DOH.
Currently, BA.5 remains the dominant strain in the Philippines with 12,658 cases. Next is BA.2.3.20 with 3,881 cases, XBB with 949 cases, XBC 610 cases, and BA.4, 325 cases.
