Covid-19: What we know about new coronavirus sub-variant 'Cicada' detected across countries

As per experts, the variant gets its name from an insect Cicada which remains underground for years before suddenly emerging.

A new Covid-19 variant is making headlines in the United States for its unusual genetic makeup and a silent re-emergence.

The variant Cicada ( BA.3.2) is a descendent of the Omicron variant BA.3, differing from the original variant in the spike proteins by 53 mutations, said the World Health Organisation (WHO).

As per experts, the sub-variant gets its name from an insect Cicada which remains underground for years before suddenly emerging. 

The notorious virus is mimicking a similar pattern, with the sub-variant first detected on November 22, 2024, in South Africa.

Since then, it has spread to 23 countries and multiple states across the United States.

However, there is no evidence of the variant causing more severe symptoms than the existing variants.

A highly mutated variant

A spike protein is a structural protein found on the surface of a virus, facilitating its entry into the host cells.

The sub-variant BA.3.2 carries 70-75 changes in the spike protein, making it unrecognisable to the immune system.

While all viruses change over time, sometimes one or more mutations can give one variant an edge over others.

The sub-variant BA.3.2 has shown a substantial antibody escape, said the WHO, making it difficult to be recognised by the body’s natural defenses. The vaccines which are mostly designed to identify the common versions of the infection might not recognise it readily due to its altered external appearance. 

According to experts, BA.3.2 does not pose any additional risks to public health as caused by pre-existing Covid variants.

Though easy to spread, it lacks a growth advantage and is not strong enough to replace other variants in the circulation.

According to the Centres of Disease Control and Prevention, the variant was first detected in the US in nasal swabs from four tourists, three wastewater samples from planes, and 132 wastewater samples from across 25 US states.

Any peculiar symptoms

The changed external profile of the variant BA.3.2 will enable it to pass through the body's natural defenses without much resistance. Hence, the variant poses a high infectivity rate as it can spread to more people.

However, as per reports, the symptoms are more or less similar with a more severe sore throat being observed in those affected.

Other commonly shared symptoms with its predecessors are fever, runny nose, fatigue, headache, shortness of breath, muscle pain and others.

At present, the spreading variant is not posing a serious threat to public health, however, its rapid mutation could be a cause for concern in the future.