CDC and WHO Track New ‘Cicada’ COVID Variant BA.3.2 in at Least 25 U.S. States
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A COVID-19 variant nicknamed "Cicada" — formally BA.3.2 and part of the Omicron family — is now being monitored by both the CDC and WHO after spreading to at least 23 countries and at least 25 U.S. states since it was first identified in November 2024. The variant is highly mutated, with roughly 70–75 mutations, and a recent Lancet study finds current COVID vaccines are less effective against BA.3.2 than against today’s dominant strains, though they still offer some protection. CDC data show no nationwide rise in severe disease so far, with overall case rates, emergency visits and hospitalizations trending down, and experts say there is no evidence yet that BA.3.2 causes more severe illness than other variants. Infectious-disease specialists like Vanderbilt’s Dr. William Schaffner and CBS medical contributor Dr. Celine Gounder stress that BA.3.2 appears better at evading existing immunity but has not become the dominant U.S. strain, urging older adults, the unvaccinated and people with chronic conditions to get the current vaccine, ideally toward late May or early June ahead of an anticipated summer uptick. The story comes amid social-media chatter about "Cicada" and renewed confusion over variant names, underscoring that while pandemic fatigue is high, variant evolution continues and targeted vaccination still matters for high‑risk Americans.