A man who arrived in the Philippines from Japan in February has been infected with a new variant of the new coronavirus, the health ministry said Friday in the first confirmation of such a case.
The variant differs from those first discovered in Britain, South Africa and Brazil, and is considered a similar threat. The Philippine variant may be more resistant to neutralizing antibodies, including those obtained by vaccination, as the South African and Brazilian variants appear to be.
According to the Ministry of Health, the man arrived at Narita Airport near Tokyo in his 60s on February 25 and was symptomatic.
He tested positive after undergoing quarantine at the airport and receiving treatment in a designated facility.
The National Institute of Infectious Diseases is calling for stronger border controls as part of efforts to curb the spread of the virus and monitor whether the Philippine variant is spreading in Japan.
According to the ministry and the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, infections with the variant in question have been found in the central part of the Philippines since the end of January. A total of 34 cases have been confirmed in the country so far.
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