The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday reported the country's first case of the highly transmissible COVID-19 Omicron subvariant BA.4.
In a statement, the DOH said the case involved a Filipino citizen who flew in from the Middle East on May 4, 2022. He did not show symptoms but his test on May 8 came out positive for the subvariant.
According to the DOH, the BA.4 is seen to be a highly transmissible subvariant of Omicron and a "variant of concern" due to its "ability to evade immune protection" even from vaccination, especially after such protection from the doses of immunization have already waned.
"While the ECDC has not observed any change in severity for BA.4 compared to other Omicron subvariants, we must be careful because the faster transmission will lead to a spike in cases that could overwhelm our hospitals and clinics," the DOH added.
Earlier, the DOH said it has detected a local transmission of the highly transmissible Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1.
