The BA.3.2 variant, nicknamed Cicada, is spreading quickly across the United States, with cases detected in 29 states and 23 countries as of February 2026. This new variant, first identified in Africa in November 2024, has raised concerns among health officials due to its significant genetic changes.
BA.3.2 carries between 70 to 75 mutations in its spike protein, which may allow it to evade the immune response generated by previous infections or current vaccines. “Due to the high number of mutations, experts worry the variant may more easily bypass immunity from previous infections or current vaccines,” a health expert noted. This has led to questions about the effectiveness of existing COVID-19 vaccines against this variant.
Despite these concerns, there is currently no evidence suggesting that BA.3.2 causes more severe disease than previous variants. Emily Ronay Johnston, an infectious disease 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.” This perspective is reassuring as the variant continues to spread.
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. Most individuals infected with this variant report experiencing relatively mild illness, especially among those who are vaccinated. “The large majority of people with this variant report that it is a relatively mild illness, especially among those who are vaccinated,” noted another health official.
Despite the milder symptoms, COVID-19 still poses a significant threat, causing between 300 to 500 deaths per week in the U.S. This ongoing toll highlights the importance of continued vigilance and public health measures, even as the virus has settled into a more manageable seasonal pattern. Experts state there is no cause for panic, but caution is still warranted.
The first U.S. case of BA.3.2 was detected in June 2025 in a traveler, and since then, the variant has rapidly spread. The immune response against BA.3.2 is reportedly weaker compared to other dominant strains like XFG, which raises concerns about potential increases in infection rates. As of now, the long-term impact of the BA.3.2 variant on public health is still unclear, and details remain unconfirmed regarding the effectiveness of current vaccines against this variant.
As the situation evolves, health officials are closely monitoring the spread of the Cicada variant and its implications for public health. The community is encouraged to stay informed and continue following health guidelines to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and its variants. With ongoing research and data collection, more information will become available to help guide public health responses in the coming months.
