New COVID-19 Variant BA.3.2, Nicknamed 'Cicada,' Raises Concerns Across U.S.

A new COVID-19 variant, designated BA.3.2 and nicknamed 'Cicada,' is making waves among health officials across the United States and beyond. With its emergence, concerns are mounting about its potential to evade immunity from both vaccinations and prior infections.

The variant was first identified globally from a respiratory sample collected from South Africa back on November 2024. It remained largely undetected until it began spreading noticeably from September 2025. BA.3.2 was first detected within the U.S. when a traveler from the Netherlands tested positive for the variant upon entering the country on June 2025.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), BA.3.2 has been reported across 23 countries to date, with notable increases observed particularly within the United States. By February 11, 2026, the variant had been detected through various surveillance methods, including nasal swabs from four travelers, clinical samples from five patients, three airplane wastewater samples, and a staggering 132 wastewater samples from at least 25 states.

Among the states where BA.3.2 has been detected are California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Wyoming. The variant has also been found at San Francisco International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport.

What makes BA.3.2 particularly concerning is its genetic makeup. The variant carries approximately 70 to 75 mutations, which is at least double the number present within the JN.1 lineage that has predominated U.S. cases over the last two years. These mutations are primarily located within the spike protein of the virus, a key component that allows it to enter human cells. This high mutation count raises alarms about the variant's potential to evade the immune response generated by vaccines and prior infections.

Dr. Robert H. Hopkins, Jr., medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, explained that the mutations may allow BA.3.2 to partially escape the protection conferred by current vaccines. He noted, “The number of mutations makes it less likely that the current vaccines will be highly effective against Cicada, but we need more data to answer this question.”

So far, the variant has not been associated with more severe illness than other circulating variants. Symptoms reported for BA.3.2 are similar to those of other COVID-19 infections, including a runny or stuffy nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing, sore throat, and cough. The CDC has noted that the variant has not shown any evidence of causing more severe disease, with most cases presenting mild, cold-like symptoms.

Interestingly, BA.3.2 has been detected at a relatively low prevalence within the U.S., representing only about 0.19% of the approximately 2,500 genetic sequences analyzed through national surveillance. Nevertheless, public health experts are keeping a close eye on its evolution. “BA.3.2 has not shown so far that it is an immediate threat,” stated Andrew Pekosz, PhD, a virologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He cautioned, “It is circulating and continuing to evolve, so that increases the likelihood that it could change and become a more efficient virus at spreading and causing disease.”

The emergence of BA.3.2 coincides with a broader discussion about the COVID-19 pandemic's early death toll, which was found to be significantly higher than previously reported. A study using artificial intelligence estimates that more than 150,000 COVID-19 deaths went uncounted during the early months of the pandemic, particularly among Hispanic and other communities of color. This adds a layer of urgency to the current situation, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance and effective public health measures.

With the CDC reporting that COVID-19 is declining or likely declining across most of the U.S., the focus on BA.3.2 raises important questions about future trends. Experts warn that the variant could potentially drive a resurgence of COVID-19 cases during the summer months, a period that has seen increased infections historically. “It is possible we will see Cicada drive a summer COVID surge and become the dominant strain,” Dr. Hopkins noted, though he emphasized that this outcome is not guaranteed.

For now, health officials recommend that individuals stay up to date with vaccinations and boosters, particularly those who are at higher risk. Vaccines remain a key tool against severe disease and hospitalization, even if they may not prevent infection entirely with the BA.3.2 variant. Rajendram Rajnarayanan, associate professor at the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, advised, “Get boosted when available. It works against all of the top circulating lineages.”

With COVID-19 now considered endemic, the importance of continued public health efforts cannot be understated. The emergence of BA.3.2 serves to remind us that vigilance remains necessary, and adapting our responses to new variants is key to managing the pandemic moving forward. The situation is fluid, and with new variants like BA.3.2 on the horizon, the public must remain informed and prepared.