New Delhi, March 26 -- A newly identified COVID-19 variant, BA.3.2, is spreading across the US, raising concerns among health officials and researchers monitoring its transmission, mutation profile, and potential impact on immunity. The strain-nicknamed "Cicada"-has been detected in multiple surveillance systems, including travellers, clinical samples, and wastewater, signalling a broader, and possibly undercounted, spread.

According to a recent study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 23 countries had reported the variant as of February 11, underscoring its growing international footprint.

BA.3.2 represents a genetically distinct lineage of SARS-CoV-2, separate from the JN.1 variants that have d...