What is Cicada COVID; is it in Philly? More on the variant BA.3.2

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as other health organizations across the world, are monitoring a "highly mutated" COVID variant that's been detected in a number of U.S. states and at least 23 countries.

The new variant, nicknamed Cicada, is formally known as BA.3.2, is of the SARS-CoV-2 lineage.

Here's everything you need to know about Cicada, its symptoms and whether or not the new variant has been found in Philly.

What is Cicada COVID? What is COVID BA.3.2?

According to the CDC's March 19 MMWR, this COVID variant "represents a new lineage" of the virus.

The sequence was first detected in South Africa in 2024, and has since been found in at least 23 countries as of Feb. 11.

In June, the variant was first found in the U.S., detected in a respiratory sample collected from a traveler at the San Francisco International Airport who had been in the Netherlands.

Is Cicada COVID in Philly?

According to the CDC, the new Cicada COVID variant was found in wastewater samples from at least 25 states, including Pennsylvania, though it is unclear if the variant has been detected at large in Philadelphia.

Symptoms of COVID-19. How to tell if I have COVID-19

The CDC lists the following as symptoms of COVID-19:

• Fever of chills
• Diarrhea
• Nausea or vomiting
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Headache
• Muscle or body aches
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Fatigue
• New loss of taste or smell

Kaitlyn McCormick is a Philadelphia-based reporter writing all things trending, breaking and city-related for USA TODAY's Philadelphia Metro Connect Team.