Health officials are eager to share data on the two new COVID-19 mutations recorded in Cebu City, saying the new variants are a “global concern.”
DOH to forward data on new COVID-19 virus to international organizations
Health officials are keen on sharing the data on the two new COVID-19 mutations recorded in Cebu City, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire announced that they will forward data on mutations E484K and N501Y in SARS-CoV-2 virus to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GSAID).
“Ang gagawin po natin, isusumite po natin sa GSAID, which is an international system, ito pong ating mga detection, and also to WHO, so that they can better classify what type of variant are these,” she said.
“That's why we want to make sure, that's why we are asking the help of WHO by submitting to them so that they can also tell us if these are really the mutation that will cause harm to our public,” she added.
Health officials in Region 7 said 37 of 50 samples sequenced by the PGC showed the mutations E484K and N501Y in SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the COVID-19.
She added that 29 out of the 50 samples had a co-occurrence of the two mutations.
“These two mutations of concern are actually of global concern also. Hindi siya atin lang talaga. This is of global concern because, apparently, these are the mutations that are related to increased transmissibility,” DOH 7 spokesperson Dr. Mary Jean Loreche said.
(ONT)