The Cicada COVID variant, also called BA.3.2, is part of the Omicron family. Scientists are paying attention to it because it has a very large number of mutations.
Health experts are monitoring BA.3.2 to see whether these mutations make it easier to spread or help it evade protection from vaccines and past infections. So far, early studies suggest it may be better at evading some immune responses than other recent variants. However, there is no sign that it causes more serious illness.
That is the most important thing to know. BA.3.2 is something health agencies are monitoring, but it does not seem to have significantly changed the overall COVID situation. Symptoms appear similar to those of other recent Omicron variants, including sore throat, cough, fever, tiredness, and congestion.
Current vaccines are still expected to help protect people from getting very sick, going to the hospital, or dying from COVID, even if they may not stop all infections.
What is the Cicada COVID variant?
BA.3.2 is a version of the COVID-19 virus from the Omicron family. It is often called the “Cicada” variant in news reports and online, but that is not its official name. Health organisations like the World Health Organisation (WHO) use the name BA.3.2.
WHO added BA.3.2 to its COVID-19 watch list in December 2025. This means experts are keeping a close eye on it to see if it spreads more easily or acts differently from other variants.
BA.3.2 is an older Omicron variant called BA.3. The first known sample was found in South Africa in November 2024. Scientists became interested in it because viruses linked to BA.3 had mostly disappeared before BA.3.2 appeared.
One reason BA.3.2 has gained attention is its many mutations, especially in the spike protein. The spike protein is the part of the virus that helps it enter the body’s cells.
These changes do not mean BA.3.2 is more dangerous. However, scientists are studying whether the mutations could help it avoid some of the protection people have from vaccines or past infections.
Why are scientists monitoring BA.3.2?
Scientists are closely monitoring BA.3.2 because it has many changes, called mutations, in the spike protein. The spike protein is the part of the virus that helps it enter human cells. It is also the part that vaccines and the immune system mainly target.
BA.3.2 has around 70 to 75 changes in its spike protein compared with the COVID vaccines used in 2025 and 2026. This is why scientists want to study it more carefully.
Another reason experts are paying attention is that BA.3.2 may be better at evading some immunity conferred by past infections or vaccines. This is called immune escape. It does not mean vaccines stop working completely, but it could mean they are a bit less effective at preventing infection.
Because of these concerns, the World Health Organisation added BA.3.2 to its list of Variants Under Monitoring in December 2025. This means it has some features that could affect how it spreads or how well it avoids immunity, but there is not enough evidence to say it is a major threat.
So far, the real-world evidence has been reassuring. BA.3.2 has not been shown to spread much faster than other recent variants, and there is no evidence that it causes more severe illness, longer hospital stays, or more deaths.
Scientists are mainly watching BA.3.2 because of what it could do, not because it has already been shown to be worse than other COVID variants.
Is the Cicada COVID variant spreading in Europe in 2026?
The Cicada COVID variant, BA.3.2, has been detected in Europe, but it does not appear to be the dominant variant across the EU and EEA.
European health experts are monitoring BA.3.2 as part of their regular COVID monitoring. In early 2026, the variant accounted for more than 40% of cases in Germany and the Netherlands over a week.
However, experts said these numbers were uncertain because there were few COVID cases at the time and only a small number of samples were tested.
Later reports showed that there were no recent BA.3.2 samples in weeks 6 and 7 of 2026. This suggests the variant may have increased briefly in some countries, but there is no clear sign that it has continued to spread widely across Europe.
Overall, BA.3.2 is present in Europe and is being closely monitored, but there is no strong evidence that it has become the dominant COVID variant across the region.
Is the Cicada COVID variant more contagious?
At the moment, there is no strong evidence that the Cicada COVID variant, BA.3.2, spreads more easily than other COVID variants currently circulating in Europe. The World Health Organisation says BA.3.2 has not shown a steady growth advantage over other variants, which is why it is being watched closely rather than placed in a more serious category.
This is important because a variant can get attention for having many mutations without actually becoming the dominant strain in real life. In Europe, health officials reported short-term increases in BA.3.2 in countries such as Germany and the Netherlands in early 2026. However, they also said the numbers were uncertain because overall COVID levels were low and only a small number of samples were being tested.
Later updates found no recent BA.3.2 samples in weeks 6 and 7 of 2026. This does not suggest the variant is continuing to spread quickly across the EU or EEA.
The most accurate way to describe BA.3.2 is not as a variant that has already been shown to spread faster, but as one with features warranting close monitoring. Experts are most concerned about its large number of mutations and its potential to evade some immunity, while current evidence still suggests the additional public health risk is low.
Is BA.3.2 More Severe Than Other COVID Variants?
So far, there is no evidence that BA.3.2, also called the Cicada variant, causes more serious illness than other recent COVID variants.
The World Health Organisation says there are no signs that BA.3.2 leads to more hospital stays, more intensive care admissions, or more deaths in places where it has been found.
This is important because most of the concern about BA.3.2 stems from its large number of mutations, not from evidence that it has already been shown to make people more unwell.
In other words, scientists are watching BA.3.2 closely because of what it might be able to do, especially when it comes to avoiding immunity, not because it has already been proven to be more dangerous.
Early lab studies have also been reassuring. They suggest BA.3.2 may infect cells less easily and may not spread inside the body as strongly as some other recent variants.
This does not mean the variant is harmless, but it does mean there is currently no strong evidence that it poses a more serious health threat.
This matches what health officials in the UK and Europe have said. They have placed BA.3.2 in a low public health risk category, with no clear evidence of more severe illness, more hospital stays, or more deaths, although experts are still monitoring it closely.
What Are the Symptoms of the Cicada Variant?
At the moment, there is no evidence that BA.3.2, also called the Cicada variant, causes different symptoms from other recent Omicron variants.
People with BA.3.2 are likely to have the usual COVID symptoms, rather than a new or unusual illness.
Common symptoms can include:
- Fever or chills
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Feeling tired or weak
- Headache
- Blocked or runny nose
- Shortness of breath
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhoea in some cases
Because these symptoms are similar to a cold, flu, or other mild infections, it can be hard to tell the difference at first.
Not everyone will have the same symptoms, and some people may feel much more unwell than others. However, the main point is that the Cicada variant seems to cause the usual COVID symptoms, not a completely different illness pattern.
Do Current Vaccines Still Protect Against BA.3.2?
Yes, current COVID vaccines are still expected to protect people from severe illness caused by BA.3.2.
BA.3.2 may be better at avoiding some of the protection people have from past vaccines or earlier infections. This means people could still catch the virus, even if they have already been vaccinated.
However, vaccines are still expected to effectively protect against serious illness, hospital stays, and death. This is the most important thing to remember.
In other words, protection against infection may be lower, but protection against becoming very unwell is still likely to be much stronger.
Vaccination is especially important for older people, people with health conditions, and anyone who is more at risk from COVID.
At the moment, there is no vaccine made only for BA.3.2. Health experts are continuing to study the variant and decide whether future vaccines may need to be updated.
Who is most at risk from the new COVID variant?
Even though BA.3.2 does not seem to cause more serious illness than other recent COVID variants, some people are still more likely to become very unwell if they catch it.
The main groups who may need to be more careful are:
- Older adults
- People with weakened immune systems
- People living in care homes or long-term care facilities
- People with health conditions linked to severe COVID-19
High-Risk Groups Table
|
Group |
Why They May Need More Caution |
|
Older adults |
Higher risk of severe illness |
|
People with weakened immune systems |
May be less protected against infection |
|
Care home residents |
More likely to become very unwell |
|
People with long-term health conditions |
Greater risk of hospital treatment |
Health experts in Europe say that the risk of very serious illness increases with age and with certain medical conditions. Older people are still much more likely to become seriously ill after catching COVID.
This means BA.3.2 has not created a new group of people at high risk. Instead, it seems to follow the same pattern as other recent variants, where people who are already vulnerable are still the ones most at risk.
European health guidance also says that people with weakened immune systems, older adults in care homes, and people with certain medical conditions may need COVID vaccines more often. Yearly vaccination is also advised for people at higher risk of severe illness, hospital stays, or death.
At the same time, there is no strong evidence that BA.3.2 is more dangerous for children or that it significantly changes the overall risk of COVID. So far, there is no sign that this variant causes more severe illness, more hospital stays, or more deaths than other recent variants.
BA.3.2 vs previous Omicron variants: what is different?
The Cicada COVID variant (BA.3.2) is part of the Omicron family, but it has attracted attention because of its unusually high number of mutations. While this may sound concerning, current evidence suggests its real-world impact remains similar to that of other recent Omicron variants.
The key difference is not how BA.3.2 behaves today, but what scientists are watching for.
Key Differences at a Glance
|
Feature |
BA.3.2 (Cicada Variant) |
Previous Omicron Variants |
|---|---|---|
|
Mutations |
High number, especially in spike protein |
Moderate to high |
|
Spread |
No clear growth advantage |
Some variants showed rapid spread |
|
Severity |
No increase observed |
Generally mild to moderate illness |
|
Immune escape |
Possible partial increase |
Already present across Omicron |
|
Dominance |
Not dominant in Europe |
Some variants became dominant waves |
Higher Number of Mutations
BA.3.2 stands out for having many mutations, particularly in the spike protein. This is the part of the virus that allows it to enter human cells and is also the main target of the immune system.
Previous Omicron variants already had many mutations compared to earlier COVID-19 strains, but BA.3.2 introduces additional changes. This is why scientists are paying close attention, not because of proven risk, but because of potential changes in behaviour.
No Proven Increase in Spread
Some earlier Omicron variants, such as those that drove major waves in 2022 and 2023, showed a clear growth advantage and quickly became dominant.
So far, BA.3.2 has not demonstrated this pattern. While there were short-term increases in some European countries, there is no consistent evidence that it spreads faster than other circulating variants.
This is a key distinction:
BA.3.2 is being monitored for its potential to spread more efficiently, but it has not shown this in real-world data.
No Evidence of Greater Severity
One of the most important findings is that BA.3.2 does not appear to cause more severe illness than other recent Omicron variants.
Earlier Omicron strains were already associated with:
- Lower rates of severe disease compared to pre-Omicron variants
- More upper respiratory symptoms rather than severe lung involvement
BA.3.2 appears to follow the same pattern, with no increase in:
- Hospital admissions
- Intensive care cases
- Mortality
Possible Increase in Immune Escape
Like other Omicron variants, BA.3.2 may be better at partially avoiding immunity from:
- Previous infection
- Vaccination
However, this is not a new feature — it is a continuation of the Omicron trend.
The difference is that BA.3.2’s mutations may slightly increase this effect, meaning:
- Reinfections remain possible
- Mild breakthrough infections may occur
Importantly, protection against severe illness remains strong, which is the most clinically relevant outcome.
Lack of Dominance in Europe
Some Omicron variants quickly became dominant across Europe and globally. BA.3.2 has not followed this trajectory.
Data from early 2026 suggests:
- Temporary increases in certain countries
- No sustained growth across the EU or EEA
- Periods where no recent samples were detected
This suggests that BA.3.2 does not currently have the same competitive advantage as earlier dominant variants.
What This Means in Practice
The main difference between BA.3.2 and previous Omicron variants is not severity or spread, but uncertainty due to its mutation profile.
In practical terms:
- It behaves similarly to recent Omicron variants
- It has not caused a new wave of severe disease
- It remains under observation rather than classification as a high-risk variant
For people in Europe, this means the overall situation has not significantly changed. The same precautions, awareness of symptoms, and vaccination strategies remain appropriate.
What Should You Do if the Cicada Variant Starts Spreading More Widely?
For most people in Europe, the advice would stay the same. Even if BA.3.2 spreads more widely, the best response is to follow the usual public health advice for COVID-19 and other viruses, rather than treating it as a completely new threat.
If you feel unwell, stay at home and avoid close contact with other people, especially anyone who is older, has a weakened immune system, or is at higher risk of becoming seriously ill.
It is also a good idea to improve ventilation indoors where possible. You can do this by opening windows, spending more time outdoors, and avoiding crowded indoor places when you can.
If you are in a crowded or poorly ventilated place, wearing a mask can still help lower the risk of spreading or catching COVID, especially if you are at higher risk or spend time around vulnerable people.
For people at higher risk, or who care for someone at higher risk, it is sensible to be extra careful. If you develop symptoms, it may also be helpful to take a COVID test before spending time with vulnerable people.
Practical Steps
- Stay at home if you feel unwell
- Avoid close contact with high-risk people if you have symptoms
- Improve indoor ventilation by opening windows
- Consider wearing a mask in crowded indoor spaces
- Keep up to date with COVID vaccinations if you are eligible
- Wash your hands and cover coughs and sneezes
|
Advice |
Why It Helps |
|
Stay at home if unwell |
Helps stop the virus from spreading |
|
Avoid high-risk people |
Protects vulnerable people |
|
Open windows indoors |
Improves ventilation |
|
Wear a mask in crowded places |
Reduces the risk of spreading infection |
|
Keep vaccines up to date |
Helps protect against serious illness |
|
Wash your hands and cover your cough |
Helps reduce the spread of germs |
Bottom Line
BA.3.2, also called the Cicada variant, is something health experts are watching closely. However, there is currently no sign that it has significantly changed the overall COVID situation.
The World Health Organisation has placed BA.3.2 on its list of Variants Under Monitoring. This means it has some features that warrant closer study, but there is currently no evidence that it is a more serious threat.
Scientists are most interested in BA.3.2 because it has many mutations and may be better at evading immunity conferred by vaccines or past infections.
Even so, there is no clear evidence that BA.3.2 causes more serious illness than other recent COVID variants. It has also not been shown to spread much faster than other variants.
In simple terms, BA.3.2 is being watched because of what it might do, not because it has already been proven to be more dangerous.
For people in Europe, the advice stays the same. Stay at home if you feel unwell, avoid close contact with vulnerable people, improve ventilation indoors, and keep up to date with COVID vaccines if you are eligible.
If you have COVID symptoms and are unsure what to do, Mobi Doctor can help you speak with a doctor online from 7 am to 11 pm. You can get advice about your symptoms, treatment options, and whether you may need further medical care.
