Dr. Richard Mata, a pediatrician and online health advocate, has warned Dabawenyos to avoid mass gathering as the Indian variant of Covid-19 is now being detected in the Philippines.
Based on reports, the Philippines has detected its first two cases of a coronavirus variant first identified in India. The variant had been confirmed in two Filipino seafarers who returned in April this year.
“Kung magkumpyansa ta ug mag-gather ta basin bigla ni muhapak sa atoa nga murag kalayo nga mukatag. So that is why, I really agree na careful gyud ta karon labi na daghan pa questions aning Indian variant na lisod pa tubagon,” Mata said in a live broadcast interview with Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Wednesday.
It can be recalled that the Indian variant came out after India recorded the world’s sharpest spike in coronavirus infections this month with hospital beds, oxygen and medicines are now running out.
“Actually nakuratan ang kalibutan aning Indian variant kay even India wala sila ga-expect kay even before their election and festival, kay mao man to ilang gibasol na nag-cause sa ilang surge. Before the variant, India is somehow kontrolado daw nila ang Covid cases ug somehow proud sila ana,” Mata said.
He added that people in India are not following the minimum health standard protocols like the wearing of face mask even before the election and the festival.
“Karon bigla naay ingon ani nga kaso so nalibog sila kung unsa gyud nakadala aning grabe na mga kaso is it really the festival, election or nag lahi gyud ning virus gyud? Big question. So ilahang ginatan-aw it would really be the new variant. Mas paspas ni makatakod, mura resistant to the anti-bodies, basi daw ang virus niadto na sa lawas sa isa ka tao sa India ug nag react na iyang immune system pero wala napatay ang virus kay mild lang ang reaction so meaning na familiar na ang virus didto sa immune system sa tao. Murag nag-uban na sila, murag nag-mutate to adapt the immune system sa isa ka tao then kato na pud na release sa hangin ug naadto sa lain tao. A virus that has already adapted the immune system of a human being murag ana ilang theory,” Mata explained.
There are also reports that vaccines may protect people from the said variant.
“It is a big question kung epektibo ba ang bakuna ani niya. Naay mga fears na miabot ana. But based on research, kato daw covaxin, which is an Indian vaccine effective daw gihapon against Indian variant. Covaxin is like sinovac or sinopharm vaccines,” Mata said.
