Transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles (green) within endosomes of a heavily infected nasal Olfactory Epithelial Cell. Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. NIAID photo 

The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday said the country has detected 380 more cases of the Delta variant as well as one case of the B.1.1.318 variant first detected in Mauritius.

According to DOH spokesperson Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire the Delta or B.1.617.2 variant comprises 30.29 percent of the country’s 15,882 samples assigned with a lineage, Aside from the additional Delta variant cases, government’s latest run of 746 samples last Friday also found 104 cases of the Alpha variant, first reported in the UK, 166 cases of the Beta variant, first detected in South Africa, and 1 case of the B.1.1.318 variant.

A 34-year-old male who returned to the Philippines from the UAE last March 5 and recovered from the respiratory illness on March 21 tested positive for B.1.1.318 variant, the patient was from Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. Vergerie added.

The B.1.1.318 was classified as variant under investigation by the World Health Organization last June 2, the spokesperson said.

“It has 14 mutations in the spike region. Kasama po dito ang mutations na nakita sa Delta and Beta variant. Pinagaraalan po itong maigi ng WHO, ng mga international experts dahil itong mutations na ito ay maaaring makaapekto sa efficacy ng bakuna at transmission ng sakit,” she told reporters.

“It’s a variant under monitoring. Wala po tayong cause to panic, kailangan lang po maging vigilant tayong lahat and follow our minimum public health standards.”

The 746 samples were collected in March, April, September and October and were tested to “trace the beginnings of Delta variant” in the country, Vergeire said.