The BA.3.2 Covid variant, nicknamed ‘cicada’, has been detected in 24 U.S. states with about 70-75 mutations that may evade current vaccine immunity
So far, it’s unclear if the new Covid variant causes more severe illness compared to the other variants(Image: Getty)
Spring has arrived—but viruses continue to circulate. There’s a new Covid variant called BA.3.2, nicknamed “cicada,” alongside other respiratory ailments and even a stomach bug making the rounds.
“Cicada” belongs to the omicron family of variants; however, it carries approximately 70-75 mutations compared to the dominant strains, which could help it bypass the immune protection offered by the current COVID-19 vaccines.
“It is another variant of Omicron that has evolved several mutations that make it more difficult for the immune system to completely neutralize,” states Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. The “cicada” variant was initially identified in South Africa in November 2024 and later detected in America in a traveler in June 2025. The variant gained more traction in Northern Europe this winter.
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“It is a descendant of an early Omicron strain BA.3 that went quasi-dormant for some time and acquired these mutations and then came back as BA.3.2,” Dr. Adalja explained.
What states have detected the cicada COVID variant?
The cicada variant has been found in these 24 U.S. states, according to the CDC:
CaliforniaConnecticutFloridaHawaiiIdahoLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMissouriNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew YorkOhioPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWyomingWhat are the symptoms of the cicada COVID variant?
The cicada COVID variant typically doesn’t produce symptoms that vary significantly from those of earlier COVID variants.
These are the symptoms of the new Covid variant, according to the CDC:
Fever or chillsCoughShortness of breath or difficulty breathingSore throatCongestion or runny noseNew loss of taste or smellFatigueMuscle or body achesHeadacheNausea or vomitingDiarrhea
The cicada COVID variant typically doesn’t produce symptoms that vary significantly from those of earlier COVID variants
Does the cicada COVID variant cause more severe illness?
Currently, it remains uncertain whether the new Covid variant triggers more serious illness. The cicada COVID variant contains 70 to 75 substitutions in its spike protein, which is what the virus uses to bind to your cells and infect you, Prevention reported.
This suggests that the immunity you’ve developed over time may not be sufficient to combat this strain.
“Immunity wanes over time, fewer people are getting vaccinated, and the prior immunity that was developed will not be optimally protective against such a variant,” Dr. Adalja said.
This doesn’t necessarily indicate that the illness will be more severe—it simply means that more people are likely to become infected.
“The best way to protect yourself is vaccination, but our present vaccines are imperfect,” said Thomas Russo, M.D., professor and chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo in New York.
“The concern is that this is going to potentially drive an increased number of cases,” Dr. Russo added. “With this one popping up, the concern is that it might drive an increased number of cases again.”
