A man who arrived in Japan from the Philippines in February was caught with a new version of the novel coronavirus, the health ministry said Friday, in the first confirmation of such a case.
The variant is different from those first found 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 through vaccination, as is the case in the South African and Brazilian variants.
According to the health ministry, the man in his 60s arrived at Narita Airport near Tokyo on February 25 and was asymptomatic.
He tested positive after undergoing quarantine at the airport and is being treated at a designated facility.
The National Infectious Diseases Institute is calling for stronger border control measures as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the virus and is monitoring the spread of the Philippine variant in Japan.
According to the ministry and the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, diseases with the variant in question have been detected in the central Philippines since the end of January. A total of 34 cases have been confirmed in the country to date.
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