The Philippines has not detected a new subvariant of the Delta coronavirus strain, the Department of Health said Thursday after Israel reported a case of the sublineage.
Local health experts are monitoring 46 sublineages of the Delta variant and have so far not detected the AY 4.2 sublineage reported in Israel and European countries, the DOH said.
"The particular Delta sublineage has not yet been detected among the COVID-19 positive samples sequenced in the country. While this is being investigated, we emphasize that regardless of the variant, all COVID-19 cases should be managed similarly and as per current protocols," DOH spokesperson Usec. Rosario Vergeire said in a statement.
Israel's health ministry said Thursday it detected the AY 4.2 subvariant in an 11-year-old boy traveling from Europe. The subvariant has been reported several times in the United Kingdom.
READ: Israel Reports Subvariant of Delta Coronavirus Strain
Filipino authorities are studying the potential impact of the subvariant on the transmissibility and severity of COVID-19. the DOH said, adding that mutations are a natural part of virus evolution.
“Our proper adherence to the minimum public health standards is still our best protection and is the best way to curb the transmission, prevent the spread of the variants and slow down the appearance of mutations," Vergeire said.
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