New Cicada COVID-19 Variant Targets Children Globally

A heavily mutated variant of the virus that causes Covid-19, identified as BA.3.2 and nicknamed Cicada, is currently circulating and appears to be primarily affecting children. While the variant is spreading among younger populations at higher rates than previous strains, scientists state This proves not causing more severe disease in children or adults.

The variant is a sleeper branch of the Omicron family tree. It earned the name Cicada due to its behavioral pattern of appearing in 2024, going dormant, and then reemerging, similar to the life cycle of the insect.

Detection and Spread

According to a report published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the BA.3.2 variant has been identified in 23 countries. In the United States, the virus has been detected in wastewater from 25 states.

Current data suggests the virus is circulating at low levels within the US. However, experts note that because testing has been scaled back since the peak of the pandemic, the variant may be more widespread than current figures indicate.

Factors Driving Prevalence in Children

Public health experts are studying why this specific variant is breaking the typical pattern of primarily threatening older adults. Dr. Neil Maniar, a professor in public health at Northeastern University in Boston, noted that the reports indicate the variant is more prevalent in children than in older populations.

Several factors contribute to this trend:

• Increased Infectivity: The variant is highly mutated compared to previous versions, which makes it more infectious.
• High-Risk Environments: Children frequently occupy environments that facilitate the easy spread of viruses, including schools, daycare centers, and camps.
• Immunity Gaps: Adults generally possess partial immunity from previous infections or vaccinations. Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, explained that young children are less experienced with COVID and therefore more susceptible.
• Vaccination Rates: Data from the Centers for Disease Control indicates that only 9.3% of children have received the 2025-2026 Covid shot.

Severity and Vaccine Efficacy

Despite its increased prevalence among children, the BA.3.2 variant has not been linked to an increase in disease severity. Scientists describe the trouble caused by the variant as meh, suggesting it is not currently causing significant clinical alarm.

Existing vaccines are still believed to provide some level of protection. Because the variant has not caused more severe illness, scientists are currently evaluating whether an update to the vaccines is necessary to better protect against this specific strain.

Scientific Significance

While the immediate health threat is considered low, the mutation pattern of BA.3.2 provides valuable data for researchers tracking the evolution of the virus.

It’s super interesting from a viral evolution standpoint

Dr. Alex Greninger, head of the Division of Infectious Disease Diagnostics at the University of Washington’s Department of Laboratory Medicine

Understanding why the virus is shifting its primary target toward children allows scientists to better predict the future behavior of the ever-evolving virus.