A new COVID-19 variant nicknamed “Cicada” is quietly spreading across the United States, and it appears to be targeting children more than adults, though experts say it is not causing more severe illness than previous strains.
The variant, officially known as BA.3.2, has been detected in wastewater samples from 25 states and in at least 23 countries. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the variant was found in nasal swabs from four travelers, three airplane wastewater samples, and clinical samples from five patients as of early February 2026. Despite that spread, COVID-19 infections and emergency room visits are currently declining in most states.
BA.3.2 is a descendant of BA.3, an Omicron subvariant first detected in 2022 that went dormant — much like a cicada disappearing underground for years before reemerging. Scientists believe the virus spent roughly two years slowly mutating inside a single, immunocompromised person before resurfacing. It first appeared in a nose swab from a 5-year-old boy in South Africa in November 2024.
The variant was designated a “variant under monitoring” by the World Health Organization (WHO) in December 2025. It was first detected in the U.S. in June 2025 in a traveler returning from the Netherlands at San Francisco International Airport.
BA.3.2 carries roughly 70 mutations compared with the original coronavirus and 53 changes to its spike protein — the part of the virus that attaches to human cells — compared with its parent variant. That’s a striking number of changes, but they may actually be working against the variant’s ability to spread aggressively.
One of the most closely watched aspects of BA.3.2 is its apparent preference for infecting children between the ages of three and 15. An analysis of New York City data shows kids are about five times more likely to be infected by BA.3.2 compared with other variants, though it still represents a minority of variants circulating there.
BA.3.2 does not appear to cause any new or unusual symptoms compared with other Omicron variants. Common symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue, headache, and shortness of breath. Loss of taste or smell is less common but still possible.
The 2025–2026 COVID-19 vaccines, which target the JN.1 lineage, are less effective against BA.3.2 in lab studies — but experts say they likely still offer meaningful protection against severe disease. Current COVID antiviral treatments are also still effective against the variant, experts said.
Public health officials say they will continue monitoring BA.3.2 closely to watch for any changes that could make it more dangerous. Vaccine formulations are typically updated each summer, and experts say it’s worth speaking with a doctor about a booster — especially for anyone over 65 or with underlying health conditions — if it has been more than six to 12 months since the last vaccination or infection.
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