DOH logs 4th Omicron variant case from US foreign traveler

THE Department of Health (DOH) on Monday reported the detection of an additional Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant case and 38 Delta variant (B.1.617.2) cases based on the latest batch of whole genome sequencing conducted by the Philippine Genome Center (PGC).

There are now four Omicron variant cases in the country.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that 82.61 percent were positive from Delta variant based on the PGC report as of December 24, while 2.17 percent was positive from the Omicron variant.

The 4th case is a 38-year-old female from the US who arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on December 10 via Philippine Airlines PR 127.

Vergeire said that the person experienced throat itchiness and colds on December 13.

A day before her flight to the Philippines, she met her friends in the US. She had a negative pre-departure PCR swab last December 7, 2021.

On December 14, her RT-PCR yielded positive results. She was released on December 24 but was reswabbed on December 25 following the sequencing result when the Omicron was detected. She is currently on home isolation.

“She will be re-tested again tomorrow [December 28],” Vergeire said adding that they are still verifying her co-passengers but assured that all of them underwent isolation.

“And they are being monitored,” Vergeire added.

Vergeire said that the Delta variant is the most common lineage (42.43 percent) nationally.

“Once detected in a region, it becomes the more common lineage,” she added.

The Beta variant, on the other hand, comprises 18.22 percent among all samples sequenced since March, making it the second most common lineage.

Meanwhile, 15.91 percent or 3,169 samples were positive for the Alpha variant (B.1.1.7), 0.02 percent or 4 samples positive for the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529), and 0.02 percent or 3 samples positive for the Gamma variant (P.1).

Verge ire said that detected omicron cases remain to be among international arrivals but its entry is inevitable.

“We want to further delay its entry to ensure that local health systems are ready,” Vergeire said adding that the impact of Omicron can be minimized by:

Vaccinating as fast as we can

Prioritize A2 and A3 to minimize burden on health care capacity as they have highest likelihood for hospitalization and death

Vaccination may lessen transmission

Control case increases through immediate case detection, isolation, and contact tracing—lower case numbers means less chances for the virus to be transmitted and chances for it to further mutate.