BA.3.2 ‘Cicada’ COVID Variant Spreading Across the US — What You Need to Know
A heavily mutated COVID-19 strain nicknamed “cicada” has been detected in at least 25 American states, raising questions about vaccine effectiveness and immune evasion — though experts say there’s no evidence it causes more severe illness.
The United States is tracking a new and genetically unusual COVID-19 variant that scientists have dubbed “cicada.” Known formally as BA.3.2, this heavily mutated strain has quietly been gaining ground across the country and internationally, prompting public health officials and virologists to keep a close watch on its behavior and spread.
While overall COVID-19 case numbers remain relatively low across the nation, the emergence of BA.3.2 represents a new chapter in the virus’s ongoing evolution — one that experts say warrants attention, even if it doesn’t yet warrant alarm.
What Is the BA.3.2 ‘Cicada’ Variant?
BA.3.2 was first identified in November 2024 in South Africa. It is a descendant of BA.3, an Omicron subvariant that briefly circulated alongside BA.1 and BA.2 back in 2022 before fading from prominence. While its ancestor BA.3 essentially fizzled out, it never fully disappeared. Over the course of two years and dozens of mutations, BA.3.2 eventually emerged as a distinct and genetically notable strain.
The variant earned its “cicada” nickname from T. Ryan Gregory, Ph.D., a professor of evolutionary biology at the University of Guelph who has previously named other variants including “stratus” and “pirola.” The name was chosen deliberately — much like the insect that spends years underground before surfacing in large numbers, BA.3.2 spent its early existence largely under the radar before beginning to spread more actively.
“It was under the radar, replicating, until it started to spread more from person to person,” explained Andrew Pekosz, Ph.D., a virologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Why Are Scientists Paying Close Attention?
What sets BA.3.2 apart from other currently circulating variants is the sheer number and nature of its genetic changes. The variant carries between 70 and 75 mutations in its spike protein — the part of the virus that attaches to human cells and is also the primary target of COVID-19 vaccines.
This mutation profile makes BA.3.2 genetically distinct from JN.1 and LP.8.1, the strains that current COVID-19 vaccines are formulated to target. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), BA.3.2 represents a new viral lineage that is “genetically distinct” from the family of variants that have dominated in recent years.
In laboratory studies, BA.3.2 showed a notable ability to escape COVID-19 antibodies due to those spike protein changes — a finding published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. This immune evasion potential is what placed BA.3.2 on the World Health Organization’s radar. In December 2025, the WHO formally classified BA.3.2 as a “variant under monitoring.”
“It has a lot of mutations that may cause it to look different to your immune system,” Pekosz told TODAY.com.
However, there is an important nuance. Dr. Dana Mazo, an infectious diseases physician at NYU Langone Health, noted that some of these mutations may also reduce the virus’s ability to effectively bind to human cells. “Yes, our immune system may not recognize it, but it also doesn’t recognize us as well,” she explained. In other words, the very mutations that help it dodge immunity may also make it somewhat less effective at infecting cells in the first place.
Where Has the Cicada Variant Been Detected?
The BA.3.2 variant was first detected in the United States in June 2025, when it was identified in a traveler returning from the Netherlands at San Francisco International Airport. Since then, it has been found in additional international travelers, domestic COVID-19 patients, and wastewater surveillance samples across the country.
As of early 2026, the CDC confirmed BA.3.2 has been detected in at least 25 U.S. states, including California, New York, Texas, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Michigan, Ohio, Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Louisiana, Nevada, Utah, Missouri, South Carolina, Idaho, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Hawaii, Wyoming, and Indiana.
Globally, as of February 11, 2026, BA.3.2 has spread to at least 23 countries. It is particularly active in parts of Europe, where it is responsible for approximately 30% of COVID cases in Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands, according to CDC data.
Data from WastewaterSCAN, a disease surveillance program run by Stanford University, showed BA.3.2 present in 3.7% of sewage samples collected nationally — a sign that the variant’s true prevalence may be broader than confirmed case counts suggest.
Despite these detections, BA.3.2 has not yet accumulated enough case volume to appear on the CDC’s official variant proportion tracker.
Is BA.3.2 More Dangerous Than Previous Variants?
This is arguably the most important question, and for now, the answer appears to be no.
“There’s no evidence that BA.3.2 is causing more severe disease or hospitalizations in countries where it’s more widespread,” said Dr. Adolfo García-Sastre, director of the Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute at Mount Sinai.
The consensus among infectious disease experts is that while BA.3.2 may look alarming on paper — given the volume of its mutations — it has not translated into dramatically worse health outcomes for those it infects.
“It looks scary on paper, but it hasn’t really made a big impact in terms of disease in most places yet,” Pekosz acknowledged.
The WHO has also noted that despite its large mutation count, BA.3.2 “has not shown a sustained growth advantage over any other co-circulating variant.” This means that while it is spreading, it has not yet demonstrated the kind of rapid dominance that would signal a major public health emergency. Current dominant variants — XFG (also called “stratus”), NB.1.8.1 (“nimbus”), and their descendants — continue to account for the majority of cases globally.
Will BA.3.2 Trigger a New COVID Wave?
Experts are cautiously optimistic that BA.3.2 will not cause a surge on the scale seen during earlier phases of the pandemic. The variant’s detections are increasing, but the rise has been gradual, and it has not overtaken dominant strains in any country where it has been monitored.
“It’s increasing, but it hasn’t really caused a huge surge of infections anywhere,” Pekosz noted.
Importantly, even if BA.3.2 can evade some existing immunity, scientists believe there will still be partial “cross-reactivity” — meaning the immune systems of people previously vaccinated or infected will likely still recognize and respond to the variant to some degree. It won’t be a completely foreign threat to most people’s immune defenses.
That said, COVID-19 has consistently demonstrated its ability to surprise. Experts acknowledge that the virus could evolve further, potentially becoming better at spreading or causing illness.
“It may evolve to be a bit better at spreading or causing disease, but we just don’t know,” Pekosz said honestly.
Reduced surveillance infrastructure in the U.S. also makes it harder to track the variant’s true reach. “There are still a lot of unknown questions about how prevalent it is in the U.S., because surveillance has been reduced a lot,” García-Sastre added.
What Are the BA’s Symptoms? 3.2 A Variant of Cicada?
The symptoms of BA.3.2 are similar to those that most people currently associate with COVID-19. There is no evidence to suggest this variant produces a unique or radically different set of symptoms compared to other circulating strains.
According to the CDC, common COVID-19 symptoms in 2026 include:
- Cough
- Fever or chills
- Sore throat
- Nasal congestion or runny nose
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Loss of smell or taste
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, diarrhea)
As with prior variants, symptoms typically resolve on their own with rest and supportive care. The severity of illness can vary significantly depending on an individual’s age, immune status, and underlying health conditions.
Critically, existing antiviral medications remain effective. “The new variant is still sensitive to COVID antiviral drugs that we have been developing, so at least those will work,” García-Sastre confirmed.
Do Current COVID Vaccines Protect Against BA.3.2?
This is where the picture becomes somewhat uncertain. The 2025–2026 COVID-19 vaccines, which were formulated to target the JN.1 lineage, continue to offer strong protection against severe disease from currently circulating strains. However, because BA.3.2 is so genetically distant from JN.1, laboratory studies have shown these vaccines may be less effective at preventing infection from BA.3.2 specifically.
“It’s not completely clear how effective the current vaccine will be, but it likely still has some effectiveness,” García-Sastre said.
The WHO maintains that current vaccines “are expected to continue providing protection against severe disease” — a reassurance that, while not absolute, is significant. Even if vaccines are less effective at preventing BA.3.2 infection, they are expected to continue reducing the risk of hospitalization and serious illness.
Vaccine manufacturers typically reformulate COVID vaccines during the summer months, and if BA.3.2 continues to spread significantly, it may be considered for inclusion in next season’s vaccine formulation. “One beauty of this vaccine is that we can update it every year,” stated Dr. Mazo.
What Should You Do Right Now?
Public health experts are not calling for panic, but they are encouraging people — particularly those at higher risk — to stay informed and take sensible precautions.
Here’s what you can do:
- If you have COVID-19-like symptoms, get checked.
- When you’re ill, stay at home to prevent infecting others.
- Wear a mask in high-risk settings — crowded, indoor environments where ventilation is limited
- Talk to your doctor about a booster if you haven’t been vaccinated or infected within the past six to twelve months
- Stay up to date with guidance from the CDC and WHO as the situation develops
Vaccination remains especially important for adults over 65 and individuals with compromised immune systems or chronic health conditions — groups for whom COVID-19 continues to carry a higher risk of severe outcomes.
“Vaccination is still going to help limit cases,” Pekosz stressed.
The Bottom Line
BA.3.2, the “cicada” COVID-19 variant, is a highly mutated strain that is spreading across the U.S. and in dozens of countries worldwide. Its genetic profile raises legitimate questions about immune evasion and vaccine effectiveness — However, it hasn’t yet showed any indications of creating a more serious sickness than earlier variations, nor has it caused a significant global spike.
Experts are keeping a close eye on it, and the general public should do the same—not out of fear, but with the knowledge that has become crucial to managing a virus that is always changing. Stay vaccinated, stay informed, and consult a healthcare provider if you have concerns about your personal risk.
The information in this article comes from the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and expert commentary from virologists and infectious disease specialists.
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