From Dormancy to Detection: Cicada’s Unusual Path (Image Credits: Unsplash)
A highly mutated COVID-19 subvariant known as BA.3.2, or ‘Cicada,’ has surfaced in wastewater samples across dozens of U.S. states and multiple countries, signaling potential seasonal upticks in infections. Health officials first noted its quiet persistence before detections accelerated in late 2025.[1][2] This development arrives alongside lagging vaccination coverage among older adults, who face heightened risks from respiratory illnesses.
From Dormancy to Detection: Cicada’s Unusual Path
BA.3.2 first appeared in a respiratory sample from South Africa on November 22, 2024, in a 5-year-old boy, but estimates place its emergence months earlier.[2] Researchers dubbed it ‘Cicada’ for its pattern of lying low, akin to the insect’s long underground phase, before reemerging from a dormant Omicron ancestor absent since early 2022.[3] The World Health Organization classified it as a variant under monitoring in December 2025 due to its growth potential.[3]
Detections in the U.S. began with a traveler’s nasal swab at San Francisco International Airport in June 2025, followed by wastewater signals in Rhode Island that November.[1] By early 2026, the strain reached 132 wastewater sites in 25 states, later expanding to 29 states and Puerto Rico.[2] In Europe, it comprised up to 30% of sequences in Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands during late 2025.[2]
Mutations Fuel Immune Evasion Concerns
With 70 to 75 spike protein changes compared to recent strains like LP.8.1 – the target of 2025-26 vaccines – BA.3.2 demonstrates strong laboratory evasion of antibodies from prior infections or shots.[2][1] These alterations, including large deletions and insertions, help it partially sidestep humoral immunity while trading off some cell-entry efficiency.[4]
Lab tests revealed the lowest neutralization levels against BA.3.2 among seven variants studied using serum from vaccinated individuals.[2] Still, experts emphasize that current vaccines maintain protection against severe disease. Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious diseases specialist at UC San Francisco, noted the variant “looks so different from the other ones that have been circling since JN.1 came on board. My ears are perking up.”[1]
Spread Hits Home: Wastewater Signals Nationwide Rise
As of early April 2026, Cicada accounted for low but growing shares of U.S. COVID sequences, around 0.55% nationally, with wastewater positives in nearly half the states.[2] California tracked it at modest levels, projecting a possible late-summer wave alongside the state’s shift toward COVID peaks in warmer months.[1]
Globally, 23 countries reported cases by February, with no signs of rapid dominance over strains like XFG.[5] Children may face higher infection odds due to less prior exposure, though evidence remains preliminary.[4] The 2024-25 season still claimed 45,000 to 64,000 U.S. lives and hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations, underscoring ongoing threats.[1]
Symptoms Mirror Past Waves, Risks Amplified for Seniors
Infections with BA.3.2 produce familiar signs, including sore throat, runny nose, fatigue, cough, headache, and fever – no evidence points to worse outcomes.[5][3]
- Sore throat and congestion
- Headache and muscle aches
- Fatigue or shortness of breath
- Loss of taste or smell (less common)
- Nausea, diarrhea, or night sweats
Seniors remain most at risk, with just 28.7% of Californians 65 and older receiving an updated dose since September 2025.[1] Chin-Hong warned, “To me, the biggest threat… is the low vaccination rate in seniors.”[1] Officials urge those unvaccinated in the past year to prioritize boosters, especially high-risk groups needing two doses six months apart.
Protection Strategies in a Variant World
California health authorities recommend vaccines for all ages 6 months and up, with extra doses for older adults, pregnant individuals, and immunocompromised people.[1] Everyday steps like handwashing and masking indoors complement shots.
| Group | Recommended Doses |
|---|
Dr. William Schaffner stressed, “[COVID] is still with us… We shouldn’t think that it’s over in any way.”[5]
Key Takeaways
- BA.3.2 evades some immunity but vaccines shield against hospitalization.
- Wastewater tracks its low-level U.S. spread in 29 states.
- Seniors: Update shots now to counter vulnerability.
As Cicada circulates without sparking alarm, vigilance through vaccination and monitoring offers the strongest defense against complacency. What steps will you take this season? Tell us in the comments.
