DOH confirms Omicron subvariant BA.4 in PH

Updated Sun, May 22, 2022 at 7:33 PM Published Sat, May 21, 2022 at 3:51 PM

The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed the detection of the Omicron subvariant BA.4 in the Philippines, identified in a returning overseas Filipino who arrived from the Middle East.

The individual tested positive for BA.4 from a specimen collected on May 8, shortly after arriving in the country on May 4, and was asymptomatic.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) classifies BA.4 as a variant of concern due to its potential for faster spread and ability to evade immunity from past infections or vaccinations.

While the ECDC has not observed an increase in severity with BA.4 compared to other Omicron subvariants, the DOH emphasizes the need for caution due to the risk of a case spike that could strain healthcare facilities.

Following the detection of BA.4, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has urged local government units (LGUs) to proactively seek out unvaccinated individuals and those eligible for booster shots.

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