DOH detects 2 BN.1 cases, both recovered

DOH detected two cases of Omicron subvariant BN.1 in the Philippines, both individuals have since recovered.

The first case was a returning overseas Filipino from Kuwait with a sample collected in October 2022.

The second case is a local resident with a specimen collected in November 2022.

BN.1, a sublineage of BA.2.75, is classified as a 'variant under monitoring' by the European Center for Disease Control due to its mutations that may lead to enhanced immune evasion.

However, current evidence does not suggest any differences in disease severity or clinical manifestations compared to the original Omicron variant.