CBS News “Cicada” is trending, but not because it’s the season for the noisy insects to appear. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization are both monitoring a COVID-19 variant called BA.3.2, which is nicknamed “Cicada.”
Where is it?
BA.3.2 was first identified in November 2024 and has since spread to at least 23 countries. It’s also been detected in at least 25 states in the U.S. as of February, according to the CDC.
But while the variant is spreading here, it’s not the dominant strain.
“Whether it will push itself to the front of the line remains to be seen,” Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University, told CBS News “We’ll have to wait and see.”
What is it?
The variant is a member of the Omicron family and is highly mutated, with 70 to 75 mutations. A recent study in the journal Lancet found the current COVID-19 vaccine is less effective against BA.3.2 compared to the current dominant strains, although it does provide some protection.