A new ‘Cicada’ COVID variant is spreading across the US. What to know in NC
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Cicada is an Omicron-lineage COVID variant first identified in 2024.
- Cicada has not been detected in NC wastewater as of April 15.
- Cicada carries around 70 mutations compared with 2025–26 vaccine strains.
A COVID-19 variant called Cicada, formally known as BA.3.2, has been found in 25 states as of March 19, including South Carolina, but has not yet been detected in North Carolina wastewater. The variant carries around 70 mutations compared to the variants used in 2025-26 vaccines, which could make it more contagious and reduce protection from vaccination or prior infection.
FULL STORY: ‘Cicada’ COVID is spreading & may be more contagious. Latest info for NC
Here are key takeaways:
• What is it: Cicada is in the Omicron lineage and was first identified in 2024. It’s named for the insect because it disappears and reappears months later.
• Where it’s been found: The CDC says it has been detected in 25 states and at several international airports. It had not been found in North Carolina wastewater as of April 15, according to NCDHHS.
• Symptoms and severity: NCDHHS said symptoms are similar to other COVID-19 strains. Dr. David Wohl, an infectious diseases expert with UNC Health, said the variant “does not lead to COVID-19 symptoms being much different or more severe disease.”
• Vaccine protection: The variant’s roughly 70 mutations may reduce protection from vaccines or prior infection, but NCDHHS said vaccination should still protect against it.
• Testing limitations: Neither over-the-counter nor PCR tests will identify which variant someone has. North Carolina no longer tracks variants in patient specimens, and wastewater surveillance has been reduced.
• Treatment: The Cicada variant can be treated similarly to other COVID-19 variants, and vaccines and boosters are still recommended.
This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence and using our own originally reported, written and published content. It was reviewed and edited by our journalists.
