The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed the first case of the most contagious COVID-19 subvariant in the Philippines — XBB.1.5 Omicron.

Among 1,078 samples from Jan 30 to Feb 3, the agency has reported 196 cases of XBB sub-variants in which one has XBB.1.5.

In their latest bulletin, the DOH said they worry about its possible risk to public health as the subvariant has already caused serious harm in the United States, accounting for 66.4 percent of cases.

“The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) classified XBB.1.5, an offshoot of the XBB subvariant, as a Variant of Interest, due to its increasing prevalence globally and enhanced immune evading properties,” the DOH said.

However, the department also clarified that there is still no evidence of XBB.1.5 being more dangerous than other Omicron variants.

“Currently, the subvariant is still reported under XBB by the WHO and will remain classified under Omicron until sufficient evidence arises showing that the virus characteristics are significantly different from Omicron,” they added.

Meanwhile, in the report of the World Health Organization (WHO), the higher risk of transmission is due to fast and easier mutations of the virus leading to rising cases.