New COVID Variant Cicada: Symptoms, Spread, and Risks

You might not have heard much about BA.3.2 until now — that’s exactly what makes this variant unusual. Nicknamed the “Cicada” variant for its quiet spread over years, it has been detected in wastewater across 25 U.S. states as of April 2026, prompting public health experts to pay close attention.

Variant name: BA.3.2 (Cicada) ·
Nickname origin: Quiet spread for years, like a cicada ·
First detected in wastewater: 25 U.S. states as of April 2026 ·
Status: Variant of Concern (ECDC) ·
Key feature: Unusual trajectory (JAMA)

Here are the key facts at a glance.

What to know about the new COVID variant BA.3.2 (Cicada)?

What is the formal name?

BA.3.2 is the official designation for a sublineage of Omicron that carries more than 70 mutations compared to the original COVID-19 strain, according to NewYork-Presbyterian (major hospital system). It evolved from the BA.1 lineage and has been circulating at low levels globally.

Why is it called Cicada?

The nickname “Cicada” comes from its pattern of quiet, almost undetectable spread over several years, then suddenly appearing in wastewater samples across many states. Like the insect that emerges after long underground phases, BA.3.2 remained below most surveillance radars until 2026, reports NewYork-Presbyterian (major hospital system).

The ECDC designated BA.3.2 a Variant of Concern in April 2026 after noticing its unusual trajectory — as described in JAMA (peer-reviewed medical journal) — and its increasing detection across 25 U.S. states.

The implication: BA.3.2’s quiet spread highlights the critical role of wastewater surveillance in detecting emerging threats.

What are the symptoms of the new virus going around now?

What are the specific symptoms of the new COVID variant?

• Fever and chills (AARP (health resource for older adults))
• Cough, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing (NewYork-Presbyterian)
• Fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (Stony Brook Medicine (academic medical center))
• Loss of taste or smell is less common with Omicron subvariants but still possible

Some patients report raw sore throat, heavy night sweats, and brain fog, notes Passion Health Physicians (community health practice) — though these descriptions come from limited clinical observations and aren’t yet confirmed in larger studies.

How do they differ from cold, flu, and RSV?

Symptoms overlap heavily. The table below shows how the main clusters compare:

The implication: Without a test, it’s nearly impossible to tell Cicada apart from a common cold or mild flu based on symptoms alone. Testing remains the only reliable way to confirm.

How long is the new variant contagious?

How long do symptoms last?

For mild cases, symptoms typically resolve in 5–7 days, reports NewYork-Presbyterian. However, some people experience fatigue and brain fog for longer.

When are you most contagious?

The contagious period starts 1–2 days before symptoms appear and lasts about 10 days after symptom onset for most people, according to Pfizer (pharmaceutical manufacturer). The peak contagious window is in the first 48–72 hours — the same period when symptoms are easiest to mistake for allergies or a mild cold.

People who are asymptomatic may still transmit the virus, but the risk is lower.

The takeaway: The high contagiousness in the first few days means prompt isolation is key to preventing spread.

Is the new COVID strain bad?

How serious is COVID-19 now?

The risk of severe illness is lower than during the initial waves, thanks to widespread immunity from vaccination and prior infection. No evidence suggests BA.3.2 causes more severe disease than recent Omicron strains, confirms Stony Brook Medicine (academic medical center). Hospitalization rates remain well below earlier peaks.

Who is at higher risk?

People aged 65 and older, those who are immunocompromised, pregnant women, and individuals with underlying conditions like diabetes or heart disease face higher odds of serious outcomes, per Mayo Clinic (leading academic medical center). The same groups should prioritize updated boosters and early treatment if infected.

The catch: Even if the variant itself isn’t more dangerous, the sheer number of infections — especially in unvaccinated populations — can still strain local healthcare systems.

Is COVID going around now in 2026?

What do wastewater data show?

Wastewater surveillance — the same system that detected the original Omicron wave — now shows BA.3.2 present in at least 25 U.S. states, according to the CDC MMWR (federal public health report). Globally, the variant accounts for roughly 8% of sequenced COVID infections, per WHO estimates cited by NewYork-Presbyterian.

Which states have the highest levels?

While CDC has not published a state-by-state breakdown in its May 2026 MMWR, the ECDC notes ongoing circulation in Europe, and multiple U.S. regions show rising Rₜ values — indicating localized growth.

Why this matters: Wastewater acts like an early‑warning radar. Rising detection in a community doesn’t mean a surge is inevitable, but it gives officials a 1–2 week head start to prepare testing and messaging.

Expert perspectives

Three sources provide the core context for understanding BA.3.2:

“BA.3.2’s unusual trajectory — quiet for years, then widespread — is a reminder that wastewater surveillance is now an indispensable tool for tracking COVID.”

Dr. Rita Rubin, JAMA (medical correspondent)

“We’ve designated BA.3.2 a Variant of Concern because its mutations warrant close monitoring, not because it’s causing a severe wave.”

ECDC spokesperson (European public health agency)

“This variant has been circulating quietly for years. The fact that we’re only seeing it now in wastewater highlights gaps in global sequencing.”

NewYork-Presbyterian health expert (quoted in hospital publication)

For public health officials in the U.S. and Europe, the Cicada variant’s quiet, years-long spread before detection underscores a clear implication: wastewater surveillance must be sustained and expanded, or the next variant could remain invisible until it’s already widespread.

For a detailed breakdown of the Cicada variant symptoms and spread, health officials recommend reviewing the latest CDC and ECDC data.

Frequently asked questions

For public health officials, the Cicada variant’s quiet spread underscores the necessity of sustained wastewater surveillance to prevent future invisible surges.

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