Infections linked to the BA.3.2 variant of the COVID-causing coronavirus remain extremely low at present. However, experts are expressing concern that it could potentially evade immunity built through vaccination or prior infection, according to recent reports.
A new strain of the virus, informally dubbed the “Cicada” variant and scientifically identified as BA.3.2, is gradually spreading in the United States. First detected in South Africa in November 2024, the variant has since shown a slow but steady rise in U.S. cases since last fall, as highlighted in a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
What sets the Cicada variant apart is its highly mutated genetic makeup. Scientists note that these mutations may enable it to partially bypass the immune protection offered by vaccines or earlier COVID infections.
By February, the variant had been identified in 23 countries, according to the CDC. It was first detected in the U.S. last June in a traveler arriving from the Netherlands. Subsequent findings included traces in nasal swabs from four travelers, three airplane wastewater samples, five clinical patient samples, and 132 wastewater samples collected across 25 states. These findings were detailed in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published on March 19.
The BA.3.2 variant carries approximately 70 to 75 mutations in its spike protein—the part of the virus responsible for entering human cells—compared to strains targeted by last fall’s vaccines, including JN.1 and its descendant LP.8.1. Laboratory studies indicate that the variant can evade certain antibodies, underscoring the importance of continued genomic surveillance and real-world evaluation of vaccine and antiviral effectiveness.
Despite these concerns, BA.3.2 currently represents only a very small proportion of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., accounting for less than 0.2% of sequenced samples between December 1, 2025, and February 11, 2026. Importantly, it has not been associated with an overall increase in COVID cases so far.
Although COVID-19 is no longer as severe as it was during the early stages of the pandemic, it continues to pose a significant health burden. According to CDC estimates, the 2024–2025 respiratory virus season saw between 390,000 and 550,000 hospitalizations and 45,000 to 64,000 deaths. Preliminary figures for the period between October 1, 2025, and March 21, 2026, suggest 110,000 to 210,000 hospitalizations and 12,000 to 37,000 deaths.