A highly mutated COVID-19 variant has been detected in Massachusetts wastewater, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The strain, known as BA.3.2, is described as “highly divergent” and was first identified in South Africa in November 2024. It has since spread to 23 countries by February 11, with federal health officials reporting its presence in 132 wastewater samples from Massachusetts and 24 other states. Nicknamed the “cicada” variant due to its ability to evade immune responses, BA.3.2 is a descendant of strains that emerged in late 2021 and 2022. Health officials warn that early studies suggest the variant may efficiently evade antibodies from the 2025-2026 vaccines, which are primarily designed to target the dominant JN.1 strains. Dr. Robert H. Hopkins Jr., medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, noted that the numerous mutations in BA.3.2 make it less likely that current vaccines will be highly effective against it. However, he emphasized the need for more data to confirm this concern. The CDC has also raised alarms about new variants that could evade immunity from previous infections or vaccines, potentially leading to seasonal increases in COVID-19 activity. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization stated that existing vaccines are expected to continue protecting against severe disease caused by BA.3.2. WHO added that the variant does not appear to be making people sicker or causing increased hospitalizations and deaths, describing it as posing a “low additional public health risk” compared to other Omicron sublineages. Virologist Andrew Pekosz of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health pointed out that BA.3.#world_health_organization #massachusetts #centers_for_disease_control_and_prevention #ba_3_2 #johns_hopkins_bloomberg_school_of_public_health
A New COVID-19 Variant with 75 Mutations Detected in the U.S. A newly identified strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, known as BA.3.2, has been detected in multiple U.S. states and is raising concerns among health officials. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that the variant has undergone approximately 75 mutations, which may allow it to evade the immune protection provided by current vaccines. First reported in South Africa in November 2024, BA.3.2 has since been identified in 23 countries as of February 11, 2026. Scientists are cautioning that the strain’s spike protein, a key target for vaccines, has mutated significantly, potentially reducing the effectiveness of existing immunizations. The CDC has been monitoring the variant through its Traveller-Based Genomic Surveillance program. As of mid-March 2026, BA.3.2 was detected in six travelers who had recently visited the U.S. and in over two dozen patients across 29 states and Puerto Rico. The strain’s presence in wastewater sites further indicates its spread, though CDC data suggests it currently accounts for less than 0.5% of recent virus sequences. The first confirmed case in the U.S. was identified in June 2025 in a traveler from the Netherlands. The CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report notes that BA.3.2 is genetically distinct from the JN.1 lineages that have dominated in the U.S. since January 2024. While the variant showed a spike in Europe around September 2025, comprising roughly 30% of cases in Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands, it has not become the dominant strain. Experts attribute this to its reduced ability to bind to human cells, which limits its transmission rate.#south_africa #cdc #denmark #ba_3_2 #traveler_based_genomic_surveillance
New COVID Variant with Immune Escape Potential Confirmed in US, 22 Other Countries A highly mutated SARS-CoV-2 variant, BA.3.2, has been detected in the United States and 22 other countries, according to a study published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The variant, first identified in South Africa in November 2024, has been found in nasal swabs from four US travelers, clinical samples from five patients, three airplane wastewater samples, and 132 wastewater surveillance samples across 25 states. BA.3.2 differs from the JN.1 variant and its descendant, LP.8.1, by having 70 to 75 substitutions and deletions in its spike protein gene sequence. This genetic variation could potentially reduce the effectiveness of current vaccines. The CDC notes that BA.3.2 is genetically distinct from the JN.1 lineages that have circulated in the US since January 2024. Genomic surveillance data shows BA.3.2 detections rose in September 2025, with the first US case identified in June 2025 through the CDC’s Traveler-Based Genomic Surveillance program. By January 2026, the variant accounted for about 30% of sequences in Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands. As of February 11, BA.3.2 made up 0.19% of 2,579 genetic sequences in national surveillance. Researchers caution that limited genomic surveillance capacity in many countries may mean the actual spread of BA.3.2 is underrepresented. Phylogenetic analysis has identified two sublineages, BA.3.2.1 and BA.3.2.2, indicating ongoing viral evolution. Continued monitoring is essential to assess the variant’s impact on public health. --- COVID Vaccines Not Tied to Risk of Sudden Death, Study Shows A Canadian case-control study published in PLOS Medicine found no increased risk of sudden death in young, healthy individuals vaccinated against COVID-19.#south_africa #cdc #sars_cov_2_variant #morbid_mortality_weekly_report #ba_3_2
