A highly mutated COVID-19 variant nicknamed “Cicada” is gaining attention as it quietly spreads across the United States and at least 23 other countries, prompting health officials to step up surveillance even as overall cases remain low.
Officially known as BA.3.2, the Omicron-related subvariant earned its insect-inspired moniker because — like cicadas that emerge after years underground — it was first detected in late 2024, largely disappeared from view, and has now resurfaced with notable frequency in early 2026.
As of mid-March 2026, the variant accounts for a small but growing share of detections in wastewater and clinical samples, raising questions about its potential to evade immunity from prior infections or the current 2025-2026 vaccines. Experts stress it has not been linked to more severe disease or a major surge so far, but its genetic divergence warrants close monitoring.
Here are 10 key things to know about the Cicada variant based on the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization and public health researchers.
1. Cicada is officially BA.3.2, a highly mutated Omicron offshoot. The variant belongs to the Omicron family but stands out for its genetic distance from recently dominant strains. It carries roughly 70 to 75 mutations, insertions or deletions in the spike protein — the part of the virus that binds to human cells — compared with about 30-40 in predecessors like JN.1 and LP.8.1 used in the current vaccines.
2. It first emerged in South Africa in November 2024. The initial sequence was identified Nov. 22, 2024, from a respiratory sample of a 5-year-old boy. Early detections followed in Mozambique, the Netherlands and Germany in 2025, but the variant remained at low levels until detections began rising sharply in September 2025.
3. The nickname reflects its “underground” pattern. Evolutionary biologist T. Ryan Gregory coined “Cicada” because the strain lingered largely undetected — similar to the insects that spend years underground before emerging — before increasing in visibility late last year and into 2026.
4. Cicada has reached at least 23 countries and 25 U.S. states. As of Feb. 11, 2026, the CDC reported detections in 23 nations across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania. In the U.S., it appeared in nasal swabs from international travelers, clinical samples from at least five patients and 132 wastewater samples from 25 states. Updated surveillance through early March showed further spread to 29 states and Puerto Rico in wastewater.
5. Detections rose notably in parts of Europe. From November 2025 to January 2026, BA.3.2 made up as much as 30% of sequenced cases in Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands, though overall COVID-19 incidence did not spike dramatically beyond typical seasonal patterns.
6. Symptoms appear similar to other recent variants. Common signs include cough, fever or chills, sore throat (sometimes described as severe), runny or stuffy nose, congestion, headache, fatigue, sneezing, shortness of breath and changes in taste or smell. No evidence suggests Cicada causes uniquely different or more severe illness compared with co-circulating strains.
7. It may partially evade existing immunity. The high number of spike protein mutations gives Cicada “immune escape characteristics,” potentially reducing protection from prior infections, vaccinations or the current 2025-2026 vaccine formulation. Scientists are studying how well antibodies from those sources neutralize the variant, with early concerns that effectiveness could be lower.
8. Overall U.S. prevalence remains low for now. National genomic surveillance showed BA.3.2 at about 0.19% to 0.55% of sequences in recent months, far below dominant lineages like XFG subvariants. However, wastewater monitoring — which can detect the virus before widespread clinical cases — signals broader circulation than clinical testing alone reveals.
9. No link to increased severity or major surges yet. Public health experts, including those at the CDC and WHO, say there is no indication Cicada causes worse outcomes than winter 2025-2026 variants. The WHO placed it on its “variants under monitoring” list in December 2025. Continued tracking will assess any growth advantage or impact on public health.
10. Vaccination and precautions still recommended. The CDC advises everyone 6 months and older to stay up to date with the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine, even if protection against infection may be reduced. Additional steps include staying home when sick, improving indoor ventilation, wearing well-fitting masks in crowded settings if at higher risk, and testing if symptoms appear. Health officials note the current vaccine remains valuable against severe disease.
The 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine formulation targets strains closely related to JN.1 and LP.8.1, which differ significantly from BA.3.2. Manufacturers and regulators will evaluate whether an update is needed for future seasons as more data emerges on Cicada’s behavior.
Wastewater surveillance has proven especially useful for early warning, detecting the variant in airplane samples and dozens of communities. The CDC’s Traveler-Based Genomic Surveillance program also flagged early U.S. introductions via international travelers arriving as early as June 2025 at airports including San Francisco.
Experts emphasize that SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve, and multimodal surveillance — combining clinical sequencing, wastewater testing and traveler monitoring — remains critical. While Cicada has not driven a sustained surge, its emergence underscores the virus’s ongoing adaptability more than six years after the pandemic began.
For most people, COVID-19 has become a manageable seasonal respiratory illness, but older adults, immunocompromised individuals and those with underlying conditions face higher risks and should consult health care providers about vaccination and other protections.
As spring arrives and travel increases, officials will watch closely for any seasonal uptick that Cicada or other variants might fuel. The CDC continues to update its variant tracker and encourages laboratories to submit sequences promptly.
Public health leaders urge calm but vigilance. “This is part of the normal evolution of the virus,” one infectious disease specialist noted. “We monitor, we prepare, and we use the tools we have — vaccines, testing and basic precautions — to stay ahead.”
