The BA.3.2 variant of COVID-19, also known as the cicada variant, has been detected in at least 25 states across the United States, raising alarms among health officials. First identified in South Africa in November 2024, this variant has approximately 70-75 mutations in its spike protein, which could potentially affect vaccine efficacy.
According to wastewater surveillance, BA.3.2 has been found across 132 monitoring sites, with 11% of samples containing the variant during the week ending March 21. In Europe, it has been reported that BA.3.2 accounts for about 30% of cases in Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands, indicating its growing prevalence.
Symptoms associated with BA.3.2 include sore throat, cough, congestion, fatigue, headache, fever, and gastrointestinal issues. Despite its mutations, current evidence suggests that the variant is not causing more severe disease or higher mortality rates compared to previous strains. “It looks scary on paper, but it hasn’t really made a big impact in terms of disease in most places yet,” noted Andrew Pekosz, a prominent virologist.
The World Health Organization classified BA.3.2 as a ‘variant under monitoring’ in December 2025, reflecting the need for ongoing observation. The current COVID-19 vaccine formulation primarily targets variants from the Omicron lineage, particularly JN.1 and its descendants, raising concerns about how well these vaccines will perform against BA.3.2.
Brandon Dionne, a public health expert, expressed concern over the variant’s mutations, stating, “There definitely are quite a few mutations with this one, so there’s concern that the current vaccine is not going to be a great match.” However, Pekosz reassured that vaccination remains crucial, emphasizing, “Vaccination is still going to help limit cases.”
As the situation evolves, health officials are focusing on protecting higher-risk individuals and continuing standard precautions. Neil Maniar highlighted the importance of these measures, stating, “The biggest focus is really on protecting higher risk individuals and continuing standard precautions.”
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the exact prevalence of BA.3.2 in the U.S. due to reduced surveillance efforts. Additionally, uncertainties linger about the effectiveness of current vaccines against this new variant. Observers are keenly watching how BA.3.2 will impact public health in the coming weeks.
