Shocking reports are being released from the CDC about a new COVID-19 variant nicknamed Cicada, which has been identified in nearly 25 US states.
This has raised major questions about its impact on potential public health. Officially called BA 3.2, the highly mutated variant was detected in both wastewater samples and also in clinical cases.
{img}As per the CDC, this variant accounts for less than 1% of sequenced cases in America, but its presence has been confirmed in 132 wastewater samples across different states, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and Massachusetts.
{img}It carries nearly 70 to 75 mutations in its spike protein, giving it a greater ability to evade immunity from past infections or vaccinations. Lab studies were seen speaking about the major immune escape potential, but public health officials stress that current vaccines remain effective at preventing serious illness and death.
Common symptoms include mild cold-like symptoms such as cough, fever, fatigue, and sore throat, similar to other Omicron subvariants.