THE country recorded its first case of COVID-19 with the Omicron BA.4 subvariant, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Saturday.
In an advisory sent to media, the DOH said the detected Omicron BA.4 case was from a Filipino citizen who flew in from the Middle East last May 4, 2022. The Filipino, who was asymptomatic, tested positive for the subvariant based on a specimen collected on May 8.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) tagged BA.4 as a variant of concern (VOC) wherein it is seen to either spread faster or cause worse illness. “Faster transmission is likely because of its ability to evade immune protection induced by prior infection and/or vaccination, particularly if this has waned over time,” the agency said.
Though the ECDC did not observe changes in severity for the BA.4 compared to other Omicron subvariants, the DOH advisory noted that “we must be careful because faster transmission will lead to a spike in cases that could overwhelm our hospitals and clinics.”
The DOH said it is currently coordinating with the concerned local government units (LGUs) since confirmation of the case to rapidly implement detection and isolation activities as part of the Prevent, Detect, Isolate, Treat and Reintegrate (PDITR) response.
The Department of Health
Through the DOH’s Epidemiology Bureau and the UP Philippine Genome Center, the DOH said they are currently monitoring and conducting surveillance activities for any potential variants that may enter the country.
Further information about the first BA.4 case is being verified by the concerned Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU), the DOH said, adding that the immediate priority is to ensure the case has been cared for and close contacts quarantined to interrupt transmission.