{"id":4926,"date":"2026-03-28T21:30:59","date_gmt":"2026-03-28T21:30:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/?p=4926"},"modified":"2026-03-28T21:30:59","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T21:30:59","slug":"new-covid-strain-cicada-identified-and-its-raising-vaccine-concerns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/?p=4926","title":{"rendered":"New Covid strain \u2018Cicada\u2019 identified and it\u2019s raising vaccine concerns"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A new COVID-19 variant is beginning to cut through the noise of the viral landscape, and public health experts are officially on high alert. To the scientific community, it is known as BA.3.2<\/strong>, but it has already earned a more evocative\u2014and slightly ominous\u2014moniker in the headlines: \u201cCicada.\u201d<\/strong> The nickname isn\u2019t just for show; it describes the very nature of how this strain behaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As this new iteration of the virus gains traction, researchers are zeroing in on its unique genetic architecture. The primary cause for concern lies in the variant\u2019s spike protein, which has undergone a radical transformation compared to the strains currently in global circulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cPerhaps more concerning is the variant\u2019s slew of genetic changes in its spike protein, which set it apart from other variants circulating,\u201d explained Andrew Pekosz, Ph.D.<\/strong>, a virologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, during a recent interview with TODAY<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The Evolutionary Leap<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It is common knowledge that the virus responsible for COVID-19 is a moving target, constantly mutating as it moves through the population. While most emerging variants are minor iterations of their predecessors, experts suggest that BA.3.2 is an outlier. Unlike its peers, which often share a similar genetic backbone, this strain stands out as a distinct evolutionary departure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why \u201cCicada\u201d?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cCicada\u201d label refers to the variant\u2019s unusual trajectory. Much like its namesake insect\u2014which spends years dormant underground before suddenly emerging in massive numbers\u2014scientists believe this virus followed a similar path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First detected in South Africa in 2024<\/strong>, the strain appeared to go quiet for an extended period, leading many to believe it had fizzled out. However, it has recently made a sudden and widespread comeback. To date, it has been identified in more than 20 countries<\/strong>, and according to the CDC<\/strong>, it is currently circulating in at least 25 U.S. states<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The biological reason for the \u201cCicada\u201d comparison is found in its staggering mutation profile. Scientists have identified approximately 70 to 75 changes<\/strong> in the spike protein alone. This level of genetic drift is significant; such a high number of mutations could potentially make the virus more transmissible and, more worryingly, better at bypassing existing immunity from previous infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Silver Lining<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite the unsettling genetic profile of BA.3.2, there is a glimmer of hope. Medical experts maintain that current COVID-19 vaccines are expected to hold the line against the most severe outcomes. While the variant may be more adept at spreading, there is currently no evidence to suggest it causes more dangerous or lethal illness than previous iterations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Global Outlook<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As of this moment, the BA.3.2 strain represents only a small fraction of the total global case count. However, the data coming out of Europe tells a more urgent story, where the variant has already claimed a significant share of new infections in certain regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It remains too early for health officials to determine if the \u201cCicada\u201d will become the next dominant global strain, but for now, the scientific community is watching the \u201cunderground\u201d arrival of BA.3.2 with a very close eye.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A new COVID-19 variant is beginning to cut through the noise of the viral landscape, and public health experts are officially on high alert. To the scientific community, it is known as BA.3.2, but it has already earned a more evocative\u2014and slightly ominous\u2014moniker in the headlines: \u201cCicada.\u201d The nickname isn\u2019t just for show; it describes the very nature …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4927,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4926","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4926","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4926"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4926\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4928,"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4926\/revisions\/4928"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4927"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4926"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4926"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cehre.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4926"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}