A stealthy new COVID-19 threat is emerging from the "underground."
Health officials are sounding the alarm on BA.3.2, a hyper-mutated variant nicknamed "Cicada."
While national case counts remain low, this "genetically distinct" strain has already been detected in 25 U.S. states and 23 countries, proving it has the legs to travel far and wide.
As of April 2026, the CDC has confirmed that Cicada has been detected through wastewater and clinical samples in the following states:
West Coast & Pacific: California, Hawaii, Nevada, Idaho, Utah.
South & Gulf Coast: Florida, Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina.
Northeast & Mid-Atlantic: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont.
Midwest: Michigan, Ohio, Missouri.
Mountain West: Wyoming.
What makes Cicada particularly "spicy" for virologists is its staggering 70–75 mutations in the spike protein.
Experts at Johns Hopkins warn that this variant looks significantly different to our immune systems compared to previous strains, meaning it may be better at evading antibodies from past infections or older vaccine formulas.
Like the insect it’s named after, Cicada spent nearly two years replicating "under the radar" before its sudden spike in detections.
As of March 21, 2026, wastewater data shows the variant present in 11% of national samples.
While it doesn't appear to cause more severe illness, its ability to bypass existing immunity has experts urging Americans to stay vigilant as the summer travel season approaches.