MANILA, Philippines—Four new COVID-19 variants were detected among 31 returning overseas Filipino workers including crew members aboard MV Athens Bridge.
The Department of Health, University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center, and UP-National Health Institute jointly announced the development Saturday.
There were a total of 37 samples sequenced with 31 of those bearing the four variants.
The DOH, UP-PGC, and UP-NIH today report the detection of 13 additional cases with B.1.1.7 variant, 7 B.1.351 variant cases, 10 B.1.617.2 and 1 P.3 variant cases among the 37 samples sequenced last May 14. pic.twitter.com/iwWjhgwhNR
— Department of Health (@DOHgovph) May 15, 2021
Of those who tested positive, 10 bore the B.1.617.2 variant, 13 had the B.1.1.7 variant, seven were infected with the B.1.351 variantand one was carrying the P.3 variant.
The B.1.617.2 was first detected in India, the B.1.1.7 in the …
Keep on reading: New COVID variants detected among returning OFWs