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The 'Cicada' Variant of Covid-19 Is Spreading in the United States. Here's What You Need to Know
BA.3.2 has been found in clinical and wastewater samples from 29 states and shows partial immune escape, raising concerns about seasonal infection increases, CDC said.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is monitoring the BA.3.2 "Cicada" variant after detecting it in 25 U.S. states; the strain has appeared in more than 20 countries since late 2025.
- Officials nicknamed the strain "Cicada" because it remained dormant after late 2024 detection in South Africa before resurfacing; it is a highly divergent offshoot of the Omicron family, distinct from the JN.1 lineage.
- While clinical symptoms mirror previous strains, laboratory studies suggest the variant efficiently evades infection-fighting antibodies; this divergence from JN.1 strains means current vaccines may not recognize it as quickly, increasing breakthrough infection risks.
- Dr. Kyle Enfield, a pulmonary and critical care doctor, advises that while vaccines may be less effective against this variant, they remain vital for preventing severe illness; he recommends frequent hand-washing.
- Data indicates the variant does not cause more severe disease or hospitalizations than previous strains; though it currently accounts for more than 0.5% of U.S. cases, officials continue monitoring for potential seasonal infection upticks.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Time Magazine
UpstractWhat to Know About Cicada, the New COVID Variant
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COVID‑19 variant BA.3.2 is spreading quickly across the US—a doctor explains what you need to know
A variant of COVID-19 called BA.3.2, which has circulated under the radar since late 2024, is now spreading quickly across the United States. As a pulmonary and critical care doctor, I see many patients who are at high risk for severe COVID-19 due to chronic lung disease, as well as patients living with long COVID. All of them ask me how worried they should be about new variants of the virus.
Cicada COVID-19 variant detected in California; officials say risk remains low
A new COVID-19 variant known as Cicada has been detected in California, prompting renewed attention from health officials, who say the strain does not appear to cause more severe illness but may be better at evading immunity.The Cicada BA.3.2 variant was first identified in 2024 and is believed to have originated in South Africa. It has since been detected in multiple parts of the United States, including Kern County, according to local health o…
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States (CDC) they have identified the variant BA.3.2 of SARS-CoV-2, also known as “CICADA”, which has been detected in Massachusetts and the six states of New England. In addition, it has been found in wastewater samples in Massachusetts and in at least 24 other states of the country. First identified in South Africa in 2024, the variant BA.3.2 of SARS-CoV-2 showed a notic…
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