A new Covid-19 variant that some have dubbed the “Cicada” variant is quietly spreading across the globe, carrying an unusually high number of mutations that could help it slip past existing immunity, public health experts say.
The strain of SARS-CoV-2, called BA.3.2, was first identified in South Africa in November 2024 and has now been detected in at least 23 countries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Dubbed the “Cicada” variant because it emerged — like the noisy insect — in large numbers after going undetected for years, BA.3.2 is notable for being “highly genetically divergent,” with roughly 70-75 mutations in the spike protein, the part of the virus that allows it to bind to human cells. Other recent strains, such as predecessor variants JN.1 and LP.8.1, by comparison, have 30-40 mutations on their spike protein, the CDC noted.
These changes — especially in key regions of the spike protein — have stoked some concerns that the viral strain could partially evade immunity from prior infection or current vaccines, public health experts say.
“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,” said Brandon Dionne, an associate clinical professor of pharmacy and health systems sciences at Northeastern University.
Symptoms of BA.3.2 appear similar to other recent variants, including sore throat, cough, congestion, fatigue, headache and fever, with some people also experiencing gastrointestinal issues like nausea or diarrhea, according to the CDC.
The current COVID-19 vaccine formulation is designed to target variants from the Omicron lineage, particularly JN.1 and its descendants, which have been linked to the majority of infections in recent months, according to the CDC.
But the new BA.3.2 variant has also been on public health officials’ radar. From when it was first identified almost 15 months ago through Feb. 11 this year, when the most recent data were available, the BA.3.2 variant has been found across 132 monitoring sites in at least 25 states through U.S. wastewater surveillance, which tracks pathogens in sewage, industrial discharge and stormwater systems, according to the CDC. It has also been detected through voluntary nasal swab samples collected from international travelers at U.S. airports.
From what experts can tell, the “Cicada” strain does not appear to cause more severe disease or higher mortality.
Current evidence suggests that the updated COVID-19 vaccines still provide some protection against BA.3.2, though the response is noticeably weaker than against more closely matched variants like XFG, which is the current dominant strain in the U.S., according to a study published in the journal Lancet.
Brandon Dionne, Assistant Clinical Professor Department of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University
03/29/21 – BOSTON, MA. – Neil Maniar, director of the Master of Public Health program and a professor of the practice in the Bouvé College of Health Sciences, poses for a portrait on March 29, 2021. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University
“The biggest focus is really on protecting higher risk individuals and continuing standard precautions,” said Neil Maniar, at right, director of the master of public health program at Northeastern University. Professor Brandon Dionne is at left. Photos by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University
How alarmed should people be?
Neil Maniar, director of the master of public health program at Northeastern University, said that early evidence suggests the variant is not more severe but could pose added risks for vulnerable populations if it spreads more widely.
“The biggest focus is really on protecting higher risk individuals and continuing standard precautions,” Maniar said. “At this point, COVID is something that’s part of our day-to-day lives, similar to the flu and other respiratory illnesses.”
That includes basic measures, such as frequent handwashing, staying home when sick, masking in higher risk settings and avoiding close contact with vulnerable individuals.
“We know that outbreaks can happen very quickly, especially as we move into warmer months and higher travel seasons,” Maniar said.
Dionne also said there’s no cause for panic at this point. The respiratory virus has increasingly settled into a more seasonal pattern, with infections typically rising in the late fall and winter months, and is generally manageable with vaccines and existing therapies, even though COVID-19 continues to cause “substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide,” according to the CDC.
In the U.S., COVID-19 is still linked to roughly 300 to 500 deaths per week according to recent data based on provisional estimates from the CDC, though far fewer cases are formally reported now than earlier in the pandemic due to reduced testing.
Dionne said the bigger concern, as is the case with all viruses, is the possibility of more severe disease as the microbe continues to evolve. While more transmissible variants can also drive case counts higher, he worries most about strains that could lead to a surge in serious illness, risking putting pressure on the health system again — though he acknowledged that risk of that scenario remains low.
“It’s something we definitely want to monitor,” Dionne said. “It could, over time, become the dominant strain in the U.S., but it’s not yet there.”
Tanner Stening is an assistant news editor at Northeastern Global News. Email him at [email protected]. Follow him on X/Twitter @tstening90.
