A highly mutated COVID variant known as 'cicada' is now spreading in at least 25 states across the US.
The troubling novel variant is believed to be more adept than past variants at evading immunity conferred by vaccines and prior exposure to Covid due to a vast number of mutations on its spike protein.
The variant's spike protein -- the part vaccines teach the immune system to identify and attack -- has picked up around 75 mutations. This makes it appear like a completely new threat to the immune system compared to other recent strains.
Nationally, Covid cases are still low, but the so-called cicada variant is steadily spreading across at least 25 states and around the world.
BA.3.2 emerged over a year ago and remained relatively quiet until last autumn, when it started surging in multiple countries, the US among them.
Covid strains mutate constantly the more widely they spread, picking up new alterations to its genomic makeup, resulting in new, never-before-seen variant strains that can sometimes cause more severe disease.
The symptoms of the Cicada variant mirror those of other COVID strains. According to the CDC, these include runny or stuffy nose, fever, headache, fatigue, sneezing, sore throat, cough, muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss or alteration of smell and taste.
Additionally, some newer variants have been associated with 'razorblade throat,' a term used to describe an excruciatingly painful sore throat.
While Covid numbers are still low across the country, the cicada variant is gaining ground in at least 25 states and worldwide (stock)
While there is no indication yet that the cicada variant is definitely more virulent, experts worry that, because it is entirely novel, American immune systems are unprepared for what could be a spring surge.
Because of this, public health officials are keeping a close eye on the hyper-mutated strain. In December 2025, the World Health Organization designated BA.3.2 as a 'variant under monitoring.'
The 'cicada' nickname comes from Dr T Ryan Gregory, an evolutionary biology professor at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada who has also coined other variant names such as 'stratus' and 'pirola.'
Cicada first started infecting people in South Africa in late 2024. It was overshadowed by other variants temporarily, but made a resurgence and began infecting people in the US about a year later.
It is not the dominant strain circulating in the US; that distinction goes to an omicron sub lineage called XFG. However, it is currently behind roughly 30 percent of cases in Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands.
According to CDC wastewater data, as of the week ending March 21, BA.3.2 now accounts for 11 percent of Covid variants circulating nationally.
Two laboratory studies have shown that BA.3.2 does not attach to human cells as effectively as other variants, a limitation that may be preventing it from spreading more rapidly.
BA.3.2 first arrived in the U.S. on June 27, 2025, when a traveler arriving from the Netherlands tested positive at San Francisco International Airport.
Reports began to mount in early September 2025 but, according to the CDC, limited surveillance capabilities in many countries mean 'those detections likely underrepresent the actual geographic extent of spread.'
In the US, wastewater surveillance picked up BA.3.2 in Rhode Island that November, which was months ahead of any clinical cases.
The first patients were reported in early January 2026: two older hospitalized adults with underlying health conditions that can worsen infection and a young child. All of them recovered.
By February 2026, the variant had turned up in a handful of international travelers, a small number of clinical patients and over 130 wastewater samples spanning two dozen states.
To monitor BA.3.2, the CDC relies on three key data sources: national lab testing, airport screening of international travelers including voluntary nasal swabs and airplane wastewater, and a nationwide wastewater surveillance system that tracks about 1,450 sewer sites.
These systems detected the variant's arrival in the US in June 2025, months before it reached hospitals.
When a BA.3.2 sample is found, scientists analyze its genetic code and compare it to current vaccines to identify changes. They use software to align sequences and build evolutionary trees showing how different strains are connected.
Every detection is recorded by location and date enabling the CDC to map the variant's first appearance and track its spread in real time providing officials with a clear view of how the variant is evolving.
By February 11, 2026, BA.3.2 had been identified in at least 23 countries. Among them, four U.S. travelers tested positive through the TGS program after returning from Japan, Kenya, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom
The latest Covid vaccine, formulated for the 2025-2026 season, works well against the JN.1 strains that remain dominant nationwide.
But when tested against seven variants in a lab setting, it showed its weakest performance against BA.3.2. This indicates the vaccine may offer less protection against this variant -- though real-world data is still required to know for certain.
Even so, while BA.3.2 appears skilled at evading immunity, the current vaccines still guard against severe disease.
Most people with COVID-19 can recover at home with rest and over-the-counter symptom relief. However, the CDC advises seeking medical care if you experience trouble breathing, persistent chest pain or pressure, new confusion, inability to stay awake or wake up or bluish lips or face.
These can be signs of severe illness requiring immediate attention.
Additionally, if you are at higher risk for severe disease due to age, underlying health conditions or a weakened immune system, it is a good idea to contact a doctor promptly after testing positive, as antiviral treatments may be available to reduce your risk of hospitalization.