Just when many believed the period of unpredictable COVID variants was largely behind us, a newly identified strain has begun attracting attention among scientists. Known informally as “Cicada” and officially classified as BA.3.2, the variant has started appearing in multiple countries and has already been detected in at least 25 U.S. states.
The nickname “Cicada” comes from evolutionary biologists who noticed a pattern similar to the insect’s life cycle. Like cicadas that remain underground for years before suddenly emerging in large numbers, BA.3.2 was first identified in South Africa in late 2024. For a long time, it circulated at extremely low levels and attracted little attention in global monitoring systems. That changed in early 2026, when the variant began appearing more frequently in Europe and North America.
Researchers are particularly interested in the variant’s genetic structure. According to scientists such as Dr. Andrew Pekosz of Johns Hopkins, BA.3.2 contains approximately 70 to 75 mutations in the spike protein—the part of the virus that allows it to attach to human cells. This represents one of the most significant genetic differences seen since the early waves of the Omicron variant. Because of these changes, the Cicada strain appears quite different to the immune system compared to strains like JN.1 and LP.8.1, which current vaccines were designed to address.
Due to this large number of mutations, early laboratory studies suggest that BA.3.2 may be better at evading existing immunity. Preliminary data from research groups and public health laboratories indicate that antibodies produced through earlier infections or recent booster shots may be somewhat less effective at neutralizing this variant. In countries such as Denmark and Germany, BA.3.2 has already grown to represent about 30% of sequenced cases, suggesting it may spread efficiently even in populations with strong levels of prior immunity.
Despite these concerns, there is currently no evidence that the Cicada variant causes more severe illness. Reported symptoms are similar to other recent Omicron-related strains. Patients most commonly describe a severe sore throat, fatigue, congestion, and coughing. Some individuals have also reported increased night sweats, while the once-common loss of taste or smell appears to remain uncommon.
Health experts emphasize an important point: although the variant may partially reduce the ability of vaccines to prevent infection, vaccination still offers strong protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death. This is largely due to the role of T-cells, which continue to recognize important parts of the virus even when mutations occur.
As of late March 2026, BA.3.2 still represents a relatively small share of total cases in the United States. However, monitoring systems that analyze wastewater samples have detected the variant in multiple regions—from Hawaii to New York—suggesting it may be spreading more widely than testing data alone indicates.
Whether the Cicada variant leads to a noticeable surge later in the year or remains a minor presence will depend on how it continues to evolve. For now, public health officials describe the situation with cautious attention rather than alarm.
The emergence of BA.3.2 serves as another reminder that while the pandemic phase has changed, the virus itself continues to adapt—and scientists are watching closely.
