The province of Iloilo recorded 18 cases of the COVID-19 Omicron XBB subvariant and XBC variant on Oct. 19.
Based on data from the Provincial Health Office (PHO), 14 are XBB subvariant cases and 4 are XBC variant cases.
Of the XBB subvariant cases, 3 each are from the towns of Oton and Pavia, and one each from Alimodian, Cabatuan, Lambunao, Leganes, Miagao, Passi City, San Miguel and Santa Barbara.
On the other hand, all the four XBC variant cases are from Pavia.
PHO head Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon said they are still investigating how XBB and XBC reached the province and spread in different towns.
Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the XBB subvariant has an even higher immune evasion ability than BA.5.
Meanwhile, the XBC variant is currently under monitoring and investigation. It is said to be a recombinant of Delta and BA.2.IMT
