Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Tuesday addressed concerns on the reported "Deltacron" variant, saying that it is unlikely to be dangerous based on the data gathered by experts.
The "Deltacron" variant is a recombinant variant of the Delta and Omicron strains of the virus, according to GISAID, which recently reported the "first solid evidence" of the strain.
Reports of the Deltacron variant have been circulating since January, and Duque said that since it is already March, it is likely that the detection rate on the new strain is low.
"Ibig sabihin, 'yung kinakatakutan na baka ito'y mas mabangis o kaya mas peligroso … mukhang hindi naman ganun ang lumalabas batay sa mga datos na nakakalap ng ating mga experts at ng WHO (World Health Organization)," he explained.
(This means, fears that this may be more dangerous … it seems like this is not the case based on the data gathered by experts and the WHO.)
The health secretary added that it is not yet categorized as a variant of concern. However, this does not mean that it is not being monitored by experts.
"Pinag-aaralan pa rin ito at tinitignan pa rin kung magbabago pa ba ang katangian itong virus na ito na sinasabi nila na recombinant," he said.
(It is still being studied and monitored to see if there will be changes to the characteristics of the virus, which they said is a recombinant.)
Gisaaid, according to Duque, is a reporting platform for all influenza viruses. It said on its website that it is an initiative that "promotes the rapid sharing of data from all influenza viruses and the coronavirus causing COVID-19."
