New COVID Cicada Variant Hits 25 States, May Evade Immunity
A new COVID-19 variant, BA.3.2 nicknamed cicada, has been detected in at least 25 U.S. states. First identified in South Africa in 2024, US cases rose starting in September 2025, with detections coming from travelers and wastewater. The CDC says the mutation may help the virus evade antibodies and appears highly transmissible, though symptoms resemble other COVID variants. Robust surveillance will guide vaccine updates and responses.