A new COVID variant has been detected in at least 25 states, with experts confirming the mutation was first identified in the United States in June 2025. The BA 3.2 variant, nicknamed “cicada,” was first detected in South Africa in November 2024,

A new COVID-19 variant known as "Cicada" has been detected in more than 24 states, including Massachusetts, as health officials monitor its rise across the country.