BA.3.2: An Omicron Descendant with Evasion Potential
A new Covid-19 variant, designated BA.3.2, has been identified in the United States and multiple other countries. This variant, an Omicron descendant, carries significant mutations in its spike protein.
Laboratory studies suggest these mutations may allow BA.3.2 to evade protection provided by current vaccines.
While BA.3.2 is not currently a dominant strain in the U.S., its detection through various surveillance methods indicates its circulation, prompting ongoing monitoring and evaluation by public health agencies and researchers.
Variant Identification and Initial Spread
The BA.3.2 variant was first identified in South Africa in 2024. Its presence in the U.S. was confirmed in June 2025, following its detection in a traveler arriving from the Netherlands.
The variant began to show a more noticeable surge in September 2025 and has since been reported in 23 countries globally. Some researchers have referred to the variant by the nickname "Cicada."
Detection and Global Reach
In the United States, BA.3.2 has been identified through diverse surveillance methods:
- Nasal swabs from four American travelers.
- Clinical samples from five patients across four unidentified states.
- Three airplane wastewater samples.
- 132 wastewater samples collected from over 20 states, indicating a broader presence.
States where BA.3.2 has been detected include: California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wyoming, Louisiana, Michigan, and Ohio.
While BA.3.2 currently represents a low proportion of genetic sequences analyzed in U.S. national surveillance, approximately 0.19 percent, its international prevalence has been notably higher in some regions. Between November 2025 and January 2026, BA.3.2 accounted for 30 percent of samples analyzed in Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Genetic Makeup and Immune Evasion Potential
Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have reported that BA.3.2 is genetically distinct from the JN.1 lineages, which circulated in the U.S. since January 2024.
The variant carries approximately 70 to 75 genetic changes in its spike protein, a component crucial for the virus's entry into human cells. This number of mutations is at least twice as many as those found in the JN.1 lineage viruses. These extensive mutations are associated with potentially increased transmissibility and immune evasion.
Vaccine Effectiveness Against BA.3.2
Laboratory studies have indicated that the BA.3.2 strain may evade the body's protective antibodies activated by Covid-19 vaccines, a characteristic attributed to its spike protein mutations.
One study found that the 2025–2026 LP.8.1-adapted mRNA Covid-19 vaccine, which targets predominant JN.1 strains, demonstrated the lowest antibody neutralization against BA.3.2 among seven variants tested.
Regarding broader protection, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated at the end of 2025 that currently approved Covid-19 vaccines and antivirals are expected to continue providing protection against severe disease from BA.3.2. However, Robert H. Hopkins, Jr., medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, suggested that current vaccines, which target the JN.1 lineage, may be less effective against BA.3.2 due to its extensive mutations, emphasizing the need for further data.
Current Public Health Status and Outlook
BA.3.2 is not currently among the dominant Covid-19 variants in the U.S. Reported cases involving BA.3.2 have not indicated increased disease severity compared to other infections.
The variant was detected in hospitalized patients during December and January in three U.S. states. These patients included two older adults with existing health conditions (one admitted for heart care) and a young child who received outpatient treatment; all patients survived. Researchers have clarified that detection in hospitalized patients does not inherently suggest the variant causes more severe disease or establish associations with specific risk factors.
Andrew Pekosz, a virologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, noted that while BA.3.2 has not shown an immediate threat, its continued circulation and evolution increase the likelihood of it becoming more efficient at spreading and causing disease. Covid-19 is now considered endemic, and viral mutations are an expected aspect of its ongoing circulation. Scientists emphasize that slowing viral replication can reduce the emergence of new variants.
While other respiratory illnesses like influenza and RSV reportedly outpaced Covid-19 during the recent winter surge, more than 3,500 Covid-19 deaths have been recorded in the U.S. in 2026. Experts suggest the variant could potentially drive a summer Covid-19 surge, consistent with patterns observed since the pandemic's onset, but this outcome is not certain.
Recognising Symptoms
Typical symptoms associated with Covid-19 include:
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Cough
- Fever or chills
- New loss of taste or smell
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Severe sore throat has been noted as a common symptom with BA.3.2.