By Gabriela Baron
The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed on Friday, Nov. 25, the detection of Omicron subvariant BQ.1 in the country.
According to DOH, of the recent 6,070 samples sequenced by the Philippine Genome Center, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, and San Lazaro Hospital last Oct. 28 to Nov. 18, 14 cases were classified as BQ.1.
Of the 14 cases, 13 of which were local cases from Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Calabarzon, Central Visayas, and Metro Manila.
BQ.1 is a subvariant of the Omicron variant BA.5 and has been classified as variant of interest (VOI) by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
The subvariant is said to be “more transmissible” and “highly immune invasive.” –ag
