ILOILO City – Three returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) in Western Visayas were found having the Alpha variant of the virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and one with the Beta variant, according to the Department of Health (DOH) in Region 6.
But these cases were detected in April and May yet in Manila and have already recovered prior to returning to the region, stressed Dr. Jocelyn Te, DOH-6 medical officer.
Aside from the ROFs, “may ara na local cases,” confirmed Dr. Glen Alonsabe, regional epidemiologist of DOH-6.
Alonsabe told Panay News yesterday they just received the results of specimens which underwent genome sequencing at the Philippine Genome Center (PGC).
He, however, declined to give specifics. The data were still being sorted out, he said.
DOH-6 will release the details today, July 22, Alonsabe said.
Regarding the two Delta variant COVID-19 cases detected in Pandan, Antique, Alonsabe said contact tracing is underway up to the third degree.
It was DOH undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire who previously disclosed that the Alpha and Beta variants have breached Western Visayas, particularly Iloilo city and province.
The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with partners, expert networks, national authorities, institutions and researchers have been monitoring and assessing the evolution of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. It has identified four variants of concern. These are the following:
* Alpha – initially detected in the United Kingdom
* Beta – initially detected in South Africa in December 2020
* Gamma – initially identified in travelers from Brazil who were tested during routine screening at an airport in Japan, in early January
* Delta – initially identified in India in December 2020
These variants seem to spread more easily and quickly than other variants, which may lead to more cases of COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States./PN
