A man who came to Japan from the Philippines in February was infected with a new variant of the novel coronavirus, the health ministry said on Friday at the first confirmation of such a case.
The variant differs from the variant first discovered in Britain, South Africa, and Brazil, and is believed to pose a similar threat. The Philippine variant may be more resistant to neutralizing antibodies, including the antibodies obtained by vaccination, as the South African and Brazilian variants appear to be.
According to the Ministry of Health, the man in his sixties arrived at Narita Airport near Tokyo on Feb. 25 and was asymptomatic.
He tested positive after undergoing quarantine at the airport and is being treated in a designated facility.
The National Institute of Infectious Diseases is calling for stricter border control measures as part of efforts to stem the spread of the virus and is monitoring the spread of the Philippine variety in Japan.
According to the ministry and the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, infections with the affected variant have been detected 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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