ILOILO City – An elderly couple from Pandan, Antique were the first recorded infections of the Delta variant of the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Western Visayas. The husband recovered but the wife died, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed.
They were hospitalized in Antique on May 27 and tested positive for COVID-19 on May 29.
The Delta variant, also known as B.1.617.2, can spread more easily. The strain has mutations on the spike protein that make it easier for it to infect human cells.
The Pandan couple’s specimens were sent to the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) for genome sequencing on June 11. Results were released yesterday morning (July 16), according to Dr. Glen Alonsabe, regional epidemiologist at DOH Region 6 and head of the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU).
The wife died on May 31 due to hypoximia secondary to pneumonia and the underlying cause of death was COVID-19 infection, Alonsabe said on July 16.
The husband, on the other hand, was discharged on May 31. He was asymptomatic and was advised to continue home quarantine. Completing the mandatory quarantine on June 13, he was tagged as recovered.
“It took more than a month for the result to be released from PGC because of the bulk of specimens sent there,” Alonsabe said.
Where did the couple contract the Delta variant?
The Antique Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (PESU) is currently doing backtracking and contact tracing, Alonsabe said.
“There’s initial information that they previously had contact with another positive case who had a relative that was an ROF (Returning Overseas Worker). However this information still needs to be validated,” said Alonsabe.
The couple had no history of travel outside Antique why they were considered local cases of the Delta variant.
“The most important thing is for us now to establish the source of the infection so that we will be able to also track other possible persons infected by the source of the infections,” said Alonsabe.
For her part, Antique’s Gov. Rhodora Cadiao urged her constituents to be extra vigilant and still adhere to the minimum health protocols.
Antique is currently under the general community quarantine with heightened restrictions until July 31.
As of July 14, data from the Antique Provincial Health Office showed the province had 2,679 total coronavirus cases – 407 active, 2,146 recovered and 126 deaths.
The active cases were from these municipalities: San Jose (127), Sibalom (40), Belison (33), Pandan (32), Bugasong (26), Hamtic (26), Tibiao (22), Culasi (19), Anini-y (18), Patnongon (14), Sebaste (13), Laua-an (11), San Remigio (eight), Barbaza (seven), Caluya (three), Libertad (three), Tobias Fornier (three), and Valderrama (two).
‘BE MORE VIGILANT’
The public must remain vigilant but calm and observe the minimum public health standards, according to Dr. Adriano Suba-an, director of DOH-6.
The regional office, he said, has already directed the local government concerned to immediately isolate all close contacts at an assigned facility pending the results of their reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests.
“Siniseguro po natin na kon meron man ngayon, we are able to contain them effectively and as fast as we could,” Suba-an said.
He also urged local government units (LGUs) to strengthen their Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegration (PIDTR) measure, border control and strict monitoring of endorsed arrivals in their respective localities.
“Quarantine and restrictions are an important part of the government’s response to help contain the variant thus localized or granular lockdowns may be imposed if necessary,” Suba-an added.
Meanwhile, infectious diseases expert Anna Ong-Lim recommended an increase in healthcare capacity in anticipation of a surge.
“Now that we have a more transmissible variant circulating locally, we need to make sure no mass gatherings are held. We should rethink small gatherings because they can be potential superspreader events,” Ong-Lim said.
“We also urge those with coronavirus-like symptoms to undergo check-ups and testing immediately and those eligible populations to get vaccinated and complete the recommended doses as scheduled,” she added.
Aside from Western Visayas, there were also six cases of the Delta variant in Region 10 (all recovered), two in Metro Manila (one recovered, one death), one in Region 3 and five returning overseas Filipino workers.
The Delta variant is more contagious than the original COVID-19 strain due to the presence of the L452R mutation, which allows the virus to get past the immune system and spread faster in cells./PN
