Although no cases have been reported in the country, the Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said it is closely monitoring the new COVID-19 variant known as Nimbus or NB.1.8.1, which has been spreading in parts of Asia and other regions worldwide.

In a press briefing at Malacañang, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa confirmed that no infections linked to the new variant have been recorded in the Philippines so far. However, the DOH remains on alert, especially with the onset of flu season.

“We haven’t seen any increase yet. We’re closely monitoring COVID-19 cases since they fall under influenza-like illnesses, which are common during this season,” Herbosa said, noting that the DOH Epidemiology Bureau is actively tracking the situation.

The Nimbus variant, a sub-lineage of Omicron, was first detected in Asia in January and has since been linked to recent spikes in infections in several Southeast Asian countries.

Despite its emergence, Herbosa assured the public that current COVID-19 vaccines still offer protection against the new variant.

“It appears that the vaccines administered during the previous COVID pandemic remain effective against it. If you were vaccinated, you’re still protected,” he said.

Herbosa emphasized the importance of global coordination in tracking new COVID symptoms and variant developments.

“This highlights the importance of other countries sharing information about their variants,” he said, when asked about reports of a distinct symptom—described as a “razor blade throat”—linked to the Nimbus strain.

The DOH said it will begin collecting samples for genomic surveillance, with the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) tasked to conduct sequencing to detect any possible entry of the variant in the country.

The public is urged to follow health advisories and maintain standard precautions to prevent illness.