The Department of Health (DOH) has yet to say whether the South African variant of the new coronavirus is prevalent in the country’s communities even though it is the largest of the variants of concern detected by the Philippine Genome Center (PGC).
Of the more than 7,000 samples subjected to PGC genome sequencing, most were detected by B1351 or its variant of the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease COVID-19-which was first detected in South Africa.
But even though many South African variants have been seen from those processed by the PGC, it is still not entirely clear whether this is indeed the most prevalent variant in the country.
“We get samples from areas with clustering of infections, with linkages to specific individuals who tested positive for these variants. [Pero] hindi pa natin ma-ascertain kung sila na ‘yung prevalent variants dito at kung meron nang community transmission,” said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.
“That’s why WHO (World Health Organization) also cannot give that classication yet because they need further studies so that we can be able to determine if really there is community transmission from these different types of variants,” she added.
The South African variant is not far behind the B117 variant first seen in the United Kingdom. They are both more contagious.
But according to Vergeire, the South African variant has an “immune escape”.
DOH can’t tell if South African variant already spread in PH
“It can affect the antibodies that you have in your body especially if you get vaccinated or maybe you have the disease and develop the antibodies. When you have this kind of infection again, it distracts the antibodies in your body,” she explained.
Some studies have said that they see evidence that some vaccines reduce their effectiveness if the South African variant hits a person.
Despite this, the DOH and WHO’s notice to still vaccinate against the disease has not changed.
Apart from 2 variants, the B1617 variant, which was first detected in India, is also being monitored.
Although it is not yet considered a variant of concern, many are concerned that the pandemic situation in India continues to worsen.
Prior to the implementation of the travel restriction in India, some travelers who passed through the country entered the Philippines.
More than 100 of them have been quarantined and tested, of which 6 are positive for COVID-19.
Samples of 6 were sent to PGC for sequencing.
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