Trending Now - Cicada Variant of COVID-19 Emerges in 25 States: Key Facts
WHO:
[12:07 PM EDT] - CBS News - Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University, stated, "Whether it will push itself to the front of the line remains to be seen."
[12:07 PM EDT] - CBS News - Dr. Celine Gounder, medical contributor for CBS News, noted, "We haven't seen evidence of this variant causing more severe disease or an increase in hospitalizations elsewhere."
WPDE - The new COVID variant, nicknamed “cicada,” was identified by experts and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
WPDE - Dr. Robert H. Hopkins Jr. is the medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
WHAT:
[12:07 PM EDT] - CBS News - The BA.3.2 variant, nicknamed "Cicada," has been detected in at least 23 countries as of February 2026.
[12:07 PM EDT] - CBS News - A recent study in the journal Lancet found that the current COVID-19 vaccine is less effective against BA.3.2 compared to the current dominant strains, although it still provides some protection.
WPDE - The BA 3.2 variant, known as “cicada,” has been detected in at least 25 states.
WPDE - The variant was first identified in the United States in June 2025.
WPDE - The variant was found in nasal swabs from four travelers, three airplane wastewater samples, clinical samples from five patients, and 132 wastewater samples across 25 states.
WPDE - The CDC estimates that COVID-19 caused between 390,000 to 550,000 hospitalizations and 45,000 to 64,000 deaths during the 2024–2025 respiratory virus season.
time.com - The vaccine is intended to shield individuals from developing severe disease that requires hospitalization.
WHERE:
WPDE - The states where the cicada variant has been detected include California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Wyoming.
WHEN:
[12:07 PM EDT] - CBS News - The CDC recommends that high-risk individuals receive a COVID vaccine towards the end of May 2026 or beginning of June 2026 to prepare for a potential summer increase in cases.
WPDE - The cicada variant was first detected in South Africa in November 2024.
WPDE - Infections in the U.S. began increasing in September 2025.
WHY:
[12:07 PM EDT] - CBS News - The CDC emphasizes the importance of vaccination for individuals aged 65 and older, those who have never received a COVID vaccine, or those at high risk for severe illness from COVID.
WPDE - The mutation may help the virus evade antibodies from prior infections or vaccinations and appears to be highly transmissible.
WPDE - The CDC stated that new SARS-CoV-2 variants with substantial capacity to evade immunity could be associated with seasonal increases in COVID-19 activity.
HOW:
WPDE - The CDC is using robust surveillance data to guide preparedness, ensure timely responses to emerging variants, and inform decisions on vaccine updates.
time.com - The vaccine is not designed to prevent infections but to avert severe disease that leads to hospitalization.
(UPDATED April 1, 2026 17:19 UTC)
The BA.3.2 variant, nicknamed "Cicada," has been detected in at least 23 countries as of February 20th26, and a recent study in the journal Lancet indicates that the current COVID-19 vaccine is less effective against this variant compared to the dominant strains, though it still offers some protection. Dr. William Schaffner from Vanderbilt University mentioned that it remains to be seen if this variant will push itself to the forefront, while Dr. Celine Gounder noted that there hasn't been evidence of it causing more severe disease or increased hospitalizations elsewhere. The CDC is recommending that high-risk individuals, particularly those aged 65 and older or those who have never received a COVID vaccine, get vaccinated towards the end of May or the beginning of June to prepare for a potential summer surge in cases.
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(UPDATED April 1, 2026 11:20 UTC)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified a new COVID variant, nicknamed "cicada," which has been detected in at least 25 states, including California, Florida, and New York. This variant, first identified in the U.S. in June 20th25, may help the virus evade immunity from previous infections or vaccinations, leading to concerns about its high transmissibility. The CDC is actively monitoring the situation and using surveillance data to guide responses and vaccine updates, as the variant could be linked to seasonal increases in COVID-19 activity.