What you should know about the new COVID-19 'Cicada' variant

A new COVID-19 variant that some have dubbed the "Cicada" variant is quietly spreading across the globe, carrying an unusually high number of mutations that could help it slip past existing immunity, public health experts say. The strain of SARS-CoV-2, called BA.3.2, was first identified in South Africa in November 2024 and has now been detected in at least 23 countries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).