What is the 'cicada' COVID variant?

A formerly rare strain of COVID, BA.3.2, now is showing up in Ohio and 24 other states. Experts say so far it hasn't caused illness any more severe than other strains, but it might be somewhat more resistant to vaccines, as 91.7 WVXU News recently reported.

Scientists have nicknamed the variant "cicada" due to its former low profile and current resurgence.

The University of Cincinnati's Carl Fichtenbaum, MD, professor of clinical medicine and vice chair for clinical research in the Department of Internal Medicine, said it's not surprising we're seeing new strains of the disease as the virus adapts to human immunity and as strains compete with each other.

Researchers first identified the BA.3.2 strain in November 2024 in South Africa. It's been mostly dormant since that time — until recently. By February this year, the variant had been tracked in 23 countries and accounted for 30% of COVID cases detected in Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced in March it is keeping tabs on cicada. The first case in the U.S. was detected in January, and other examples have popped up in half of U.S. states via wastewater analysis.

Experts have some concerns the variant might spread quickly because it has a high number of mutations. There are between 70 and 75 differences between cicada and the most common strains of COVID currently prevalent in the U.S.

"We are seeing fewer COVID cases than we were seeing a couple months ago," said Fichtenbaum. "We expect that in the next few months we'll probably see a new wave. Oftentimes, that new wave is associated with a strain like cicada."

He said the genetic differences might make current vaccines somewhat less effective against cicada, but they should still make a difference.

"Because it's still within the omicron family, there is some partial effectiveness for the vaccine," he said. "If you have your own immunity from previously having COVID and you've been vaccinated with one of the latest vaccines, you have the most protection."

Fichtenbaum and other experts said cicada doesn't seem any more virulent than past strains of the virus.

"It seems to behave very similarly to what we've been seeing," he said. "People get cold symptoms — sore throat, maybe a little fever, some achiness, you could have a cough or shortness of breath. So if you're otherwise healthy, it's probably a mild to moderate flu-like illness."

But like other variants, cicada could cause more serious illness in vulnerable groups, Fichtenbaum said.

The best precautions, he said, are the ones experts have encouraged for other variants — get vaccinated, stay home if you feel sick and wear a mask in crowded public spaces if you have reason to worry about more serious illness.

See the complete 91.7 WVXU News story.

Featured image at top: iStock/Peter Schreiber Media.