US EditionNew Covid variant has been identified and is already spreading in 25 states
BA.3.2, with 70-75 spike mutations, is detected in 132 wastewater samples from 25 states and may partially evade immunity, though it shows no increased severity, CDC reports.
- On March 19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began tracking BA.3.2, a COVID-19 variant nicknamed "Cicada," after routine surveillance noted a steady incline in U.S. cases.
- First identified in a traveler from the Netherlands in June 2025, BA.3.2 is a heavily mutated Omicron subvariant that has remained largely "underground" since discovery.
- WasteWaterSCAN, a Stanford University-led tool, detected the variant in 132 wastewater samples across 25 states; as of March 14, it accounted for only 3.7% of samples.
- Dr. Robert H. Hopkins, Jr., medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, said he has not seen data indicating "Cicada" is more severe than other circulating variants.
- Current COVID-19 vaccines and boosters remain expected to offer protection against severe disease and death, while scientists continue studying the variant's potential to evade immunity.
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48 Articles
Everything We Know About the Highly Mutated New COVID Variant 'Cicada'
What a joyous time of year. It’s that magical time when we gather round and unveil the year’s new COVID-19 variant. What new terrifying mutation has the virus that shut down the world six years ago taken on now? The new variant that has caught the eye of health officials around the world is known as BA.3.2 and has been nicknamed “Cicada.” It has not yet become the most dominant strain, but it very well could one day, for one big reason: it seems…
New ‘Cicada’ COVID variant hits US: What BA.3.2 means and why experts are watching
The BA.3.2 COVID-19 variant, nicknamed “Cicada,” has emerged in the United States and multiple countries, prompting close monitoring by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. Detected in wastewater and clinical samples, it remains a small share of cases in the U.S. but has spread internationally.
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