A new COVID-19 variant called BA.3.2 also known as the ‘Cicada’ variant is spreading in several countries including the United States and health experts are closely monitoring it but say there is no evidence so far that it causes more severe illness.
BA.3.2 is a new subvariant of the Omicron family and it was first found in South Africa in November 2024 and over time it developed many mutations especially in the spike protein the part of the virus that helps it enter human cells.
Has 70–75 mutations, higher than usual
May partly escape immunity from vaccines
Being tracked by global health agencies
Classified as ‘variant under monitoring’ by WHO
This new variant has been identified in some countries including regions across Europe and the United States and has already been detected in at least 25 US states along with this its presence in wastewater samples suggests that it may be spreading quietly and more widely than reported cases indicate. Despite this the overall case numbers continue to decline in many areas indicating that the broader public health situation remains relatively stable for now.
No, experts say there is no proof it causes more severe disease and most cases remain mild, similar to other recent variants.
Symptoms are similar to earlier COVID strains:
Cough
Fever or chills
Sore throat
Fatigue
Headache
Runny nose or congestion
Breathing difficulty or stomach issues
At this stage the experts say the variant is spreading slowly and has not caused a significant surge in cases anywhere and it may not become the dominant strain but it is still being closely monitored. Although BA.3.2 is a newly identified and highly mutated COVID variant the current evidence suggests it is not more dangerous than previous variants and overall health experts emphasize that it is something to watch carefully rather than a cause for panic.
