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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider DOH: Mutated SARS-COV-2 strain detected in QC does not represent entire PH

DOH: Mutated SARS-COV-2 strain detected in QC does not represent entire PH

Published Aug 17, 2020 03:15 pm

The Department of Health on Monday said the mutated strain of SARS-CoV-2 virus found in a sample in Quezon City “might not be a representative sample” for the entire Philippines.

This handout illustration image obtained February 27, 2020 courtesy of the National Institutes of Health taken with a transmission electron microscope shows SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the US. (AFP/Handout / National Institutes of Health / MANILA BULLETIN)

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in a press briefing stressed that while the study of the Philippine Genome Center detected a G614 strain, aside from the D614 strain of the virus in a sample in Quezon City, it does not mean it can represent the country.

“Kailangang maintindihan ng ating mga kababayan na itong ginawang study ng Philippine Genome Center naka-centralize o naka-focus sa (Our fellowmen must understand that the study conducted by the Philippine Genome Center was centralized and focused in) Quezon City so it might not be a representative sample for the rest of the country,” Vergeire explained.

“Although they are trying to continue the study malalaman natin in the coming weeks and months kung ano yung mapapakita ng study nila (we will know in the coming weeks and months further information about their study),” the Health Undersecretary added.

Vergeire also emphasized that “there is still no solid evidence" to support that the G614 strain has a higher level of infectiousness.

The Health department has authorized the Philippine Genome Center to continue the study to get more information about the strain.

“Ngayon ang alam pa lang natin meron tayong two kinds of strains and 'yung ibang detalye pinag-aaralan pa lang (What we only know now is that we have two kinds of strains and the other details are still under study),” Vergeire said.

“Whatever strain there may be in the Philippines for SARS-CoV-2, we just have to continue to enforce strictly and properly the minimum health standards,” the Health official reminded the public.

Meanwhile, the Health department reported that as of Aug. 16, there are a total of 1,245 clustering of coronavirus disease cases in the country.

Almost 85 percent of these clusters are coming from the community, 5.5 percent are in hospitals and other health facilities, and 2.4 percent are from jails.

Highest number of clustering cases are found in the National Capital Region, Regions 4-A, 7, and 3.

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