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, BA.3.2 has approximately 70-75 mutations in its spike protein, which could impact vaccine effectiveness.
According to wastewater surveillance, BA.3.2 has been found across 132 monitoring sites in the U.S., with 11% of samples containing the variant during the week ending March 21. In some European countries, such as Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands, BA.3.2 accounts for around 30% of COVID-19 cases.
Symptoms associated with BA.3.2 include sore throat, cough, congestion, fatigue, headache, fever, and gastrointestinal issues. Despite its concerning mutation profile, current evidence suggests that the variant is not causing more severe disease or higher mortality rates.
Brandon Dionne, a health expert, expressed concern, 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, Andrew Pekosz noted, “It looks scary on paper, but it hasn’t really made a big impact in terms of disease in most places yet.”
The World Health Organization classified BA.3.2 as a ‘variant under monitoring’ in December 2025, prompting increased scrutiny. The current COVID-19 vaccine formulation primarily targets variants from the Omicron lineage, particularly JN.1 and its descendants.
Neil Maniar emphasized the importance of protecting higher-risk individuals, stating, “The biggest focus is really on protecting higher risk individuals and continuing standard precautions.” Vaccination remains a crucial tool, with Pekosz asserting, “Vaccination is still going to help limit cases.”
Despite the spread of BA.3.2, the exact prevalence in the U.S. remains unclear due to reduced surveillance efforts. Additionally, it is uncertain how effective current vaccines will be against this variant. Details remain unconfirmed.
