India, March 27 -- A new, highly mutated COVID-19 variant known as BA.3.2, informally dubbed "Cicada," is being closely monitored by health officials as it spreads gradually across the globe.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the variant has been detected in at least 25 US states through wastewater surveillance, clinical samples, and traveler testing as of February 2026. Globally, it has appeared in at least 23 countries.

While its overall prevalence remains low in the United States, detections have risen notably in parts of Europe. According to TODAY.com, it has accounted for up to 30% of samples in countries like Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands in recent months.

BA.3.2 is a descendant of the ...