New COVID Variant BA.3.2 Emerges in 23 Countries

A new COVID-19 variant known as BA.3.2, a sublineage of the Omicron strain, has emerged in at least 23 countries, including detections across 29 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, health officials reported this week. First identified in South Africa in 2024 after a period of dormancy, the variant, sometimes called Cicada for its sudden reappearance, features an unusually high number of mutations in its spike protein, prompting global monitoring efforts.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classified BA.3.2 as a highly divergent variant due to approximately 70 to 75 genetic changes in the spike protein, compared to 30 to 40 in recent strains like JN.1 and LP.8.1. These mutations, which affect how the virus binds to human cells and evades immunity, have raised questions about its transmissibility and vaccine effectiveness. However, the World Health Organization has designated it a variant under monitoring, not a variant of interest or concern, as it has not demonstrated a sustained growth advantage or increased severity over circulating strains.

Symptoms associated with BA.3.2 mirror those of other recent Omicron subvariants, including fever, sore throat, fatigue,...