BA.3.2, also known as ‘Cicada’, is a heavily mutated COVID-19 variant that may evade immunity from vaccines or prior infections. This variant is a descendent of BA.3, an omicron subvariant that emerged in 2022. First identified in South Africa in November 2024, BA.3.2 has since spread to at least 25 states in the United States and has been detected in at least 23 countries as of February 11, 2026.
With 70-75 mutations in its spike protein, BA.3.2 is distinct from other variants. The symptoms associated with this variant are similar to those of other COVID-19 strains, including cough, fever, sore throat, and fatigue. The variant was first detected in the U.S. on June 27, 2025, at San Francisco International Airport.
The World Health Organization classified BA.3.2 as a ‘variant under monitoring’ in December 2025, reflecting growing concerns about its potential impact. Currently, BA.3.2 accounts for about 30% of COVID-19 sequences in Germany and some Northern European countries, indicating its rapid spread.
Despite its mutations, health experts suggest that current COVID vaccines are expected to continue providing protection against severe disease caused by BA.3.2. Dr. Adolfo García-Sastre noted, “The new variant is still sensitive to COVID antiviral drugs that we have been developing, so at least those will work.”
However, the exact impact of BA.3.2 on public health and its potential to cause a surge in cases is still unclear. Andrew Pekosz, Ph.D., emphasized, “It has a lot of mutations that may cause it to look different to your immune system,” while also adding, “It’s increasing, but it hasn’t really caused a huge surge of infections anywhere.”
Dr. Robert H. Hopkins, Jr. reassured that he has not seen any data indicating that Cicada is any more severe than other circulating variants. BA.3.2 has also been detected in wastewater samples, which indicates its presence in the population, with 3.7% of wastewater samples nationwide showing traces of the variant.
As health officials continue to monitor the situation, further research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of current vaccines against BA.3.2. Details remain unconfirmed regarding the variant’s long-term implications for public health.