Covid 19 cicada variant: COVID-19 Cicada Variant Spreads Rapidly Across the U.S.
The numbers
The BA.3.2 variant, nicknamed Cicada, is spreading quickly across the United States, having been detected in 29 states and 23 countries as of February 2026. First identified in Africa in November 2024, this variant carries between 70 to 75 genetic changes in its spike protein, raising concerns about its potential to evade immunity from previous infections and current vaccines.
Current COVID-19 vaccines may not be as effective against BA.3.2 due to these mutations. Experts have expressed that while there is no evidence that BA.3.2 causes more severe disease than previous variants, the variant may infect people more widely due to immune evasion. Emily Ronay Johnston, a public health expert, stated, “There’s no sign so far that BA.3.2, nicknamed Cicada, is any more dangerous or causes more severe disease than the variants that were circulating in the winter of 2025-26.”
Despite the variant’s rapid spread, COVID-19 still causes between 300-500 deaths per week in the U.S., indicating that the virus continues to pose a significant public health challenge. The first U.S. case of BA.3.2 was detected in a traveler in June 2025, marking the beginning of its presence in the country.
Symptoms associated with the Cicada variant include cough, extreme fatigue, runny nose, headache, sore throat, mild fever, generalized muscle and joint pain, loss of taste or smell, night sweats, and rash. The large majority of people with this variant report that it is a relatively mild illness, especially among those who are vaccinated.
Experts state there is no cause for panic, even as COVID-19 has settled into a manageable seasonal pattern. However, due to the high number of mutations, there is concern that the variant may more easily bypass immunity from previous infections or current vaccines. The immune response against BA.3.2 is notably weaker compared to other dominant strains like XFG.
Historically, BA.3.2 is descended from the Omicron variant, which emerged in late 2021. This lineage has shown a pattern of rapid mutation and adaptation, which has been a hallmark of the virus’s evolution throughout the pandemic.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the long-term impact of the BA.3.2 variant on public health and the effectiveness of current vaccines against it. As health officials continue to monitor the situation, the focus remains on vaccination efforts and public health measures to mitigate the spread of this new variant.