The world is closely watching the "Cicada" or BA.3.2 COVID variant after noting its high mutation rate and spread to multiple countries, which may affect vaccine effectiveness.
Global health authorities are increasingly monitoring the COVID-19 variant "Cicada" (BA.3.2) as public health agencies in several countries issue close surveillance due to its numerous mutations and rising transmission.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on 19 Mar 2024 GMT+7 that it is tracking the spread of BA.3.2 following a steady increase in U.S. cases, while the World Health Organization has classified this virus as a "variant under monitoring" since February.
This COVID variant is nicknamed "Cicada" because, like the insect known for its rare appearances, it was first detected in 2024 but was initially found only sporadically before resurging recently.
Data shows that BA.3.2 has now been identified in at least 20 countries worldwide, including Japan, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, with some countries reporting infection rates as high as 30%.
Infectious disease experts note concern over its 70 to 75 mutations, significantly different from the previous JN.1 variant, raising the possibility that it could evade immunity from vaccines or prior infections.
Although BA.3.2 currently accounts for only about 3.7% of U.S. samples and is not yet dominant, experts warn that "Cicada" could become the main variant in the future and potentially trigger a new outbreak wave.
Symptoms of the Cicada variant generally remain similar to other COVID strains, including runny or stuffy nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing, sore throat, cough, and altered taste or smell.
However, some reports indicate that in certain cases, patients experience severe sore throat resembling a knife cut, a feature increasingly observed in recent variants.
While there is no clear evidence that this variant causes more severe illness, experts caution that declining vaccination rates and relaxed preventive measures keep many countries vulnerable to outbreaks.
Source:USAtoday
Click to read related news aboutInternational News