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Cicada Variant Spreads Globally as Experts Assess Immune Escape Risks from Heavily Mutated Strain (BA.3.2)

16 articles | Updated 1h ago | Created 3d ago
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A newly mutated SARS-CoV-2 variant nicknamed "Cicada" has been detected circulating across the United States alongside at least twenty-one other countries. This strain is identified as BA.3.2, which health officials warn possesses a hyper-mutated profile that may enhance its ability to evade immunity from prior vaccination or infection.

  1. 1
    A new COVID-19 strain named 'Cicada' (officially BA.3.2) has been detected in Massachusetts and is spreading across at least the US, several other countries.
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    The variant carries approximately 75 mutations but currently shows no evidence of causing increased severity compared to previous strains or vaccines prior infection immunity escape risks are not confirmed yet
  3. 3
    Health officials remain under close watch as case counts begin a steady increase in both domestic and international settings.
[Mar 28, 01:17] 'Cicada' variant BA.3.2 officially identified by health officials as drawing global attention with many mutations detected in case counts
[Feb (as of)] "BA 3.x" has been tracked and was already present at least across the US, according to CDC data cited from February.
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