Public health officials are taking a closer look at a newly identified strain of COVID-19, informally referred to as the “cicada” variant, a name that reflects its reportedly longer incubation period.
The variant, scientifically labeled BA.3.2, was first identified in South Africa in November 2024, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control. Months later, in June, it was detected in the United States through the agency’s Traveler-Based Genomic Surveillance program. The case involved a participant arriving from the Netherlands, marking the first known U.S. identification of this strain.
So far, the available information remains limited, but the naming has drawn attention within public health circles. The reference to cicadas, insects known for their long dormant cycles, appears to underscore concerns about how long the virus may remain undetected before symptoms appear.
Even as newer variants continue to surface, the broader trajectory of the pandemic has shifted over time. Widespread infection and vaccine-induced immunity have reduced the rate of severe illness in many regions. Yet health authorities are careful not to overstate that progress.
The overall burden of COVID-19 remains substantial. Data cited by the CDC estimates that between 390,000 and 550,000 hospitalizations occurred during the 2024–25 respiratory virus season. Deaths during the same period are estimated to have ranged from 45,000 to 64,000.
Those figures, while lower than earlier peaks, still reflect a persistent strain on healthcare systems and underline the ongoing relevance of surveillance programs. The detection of BA.3.2 through international travel monitoring highlights how global movement continues to shape the spread and identification of new variants.
Officials have not indicated any immediate shift in public health guidance tied specifically to this strain. Instead, the focus appears to remain on continued monitoring and data collection as more is learned about its characteristics.
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For now, the emergence of the so-called cicada variant serves as a reminder that the virus continues to evolve, even as its impact has become less acute in many settings. The situation, as it stands, is being watched closely but without alarm.
