New Covid Variant 'Cicada' Detected In Multiple Continents; Has It Reached India And Is There A Reason For Concern?

New Covid Variant Cicada: A newly identified Covid-19 subvariant BA.3.2, referred to as “Cicada”, has begun drawing global attention after being reported in multiple countries, including the United States.

According to Business Standard, the variant has already spread across more than 20 nations. While India has not yet experienced a surge linked to this variant, health officials are keeping a close watch.

What Is BA.3.2

BA.3.2 belongs to the Omicron family but differs due to its unusually large number of mutations.

As per a report from The Economic Times, the variant may have around 70–75 mutations, many concentrated in the spike protein, which is the component that allows the virus to enter human cells.

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Which Parts Of The World Are Affected?

As per media reports, the variant has been reported in the US and multiple European and Asian countries. However, there have been no widespread infections so far.

Symptoms Of Cicada Variant

Reports suggest that the Cicada variant presents symptoms similar to earlier Omicron strains. Common signs include fever, fatigue, sore throat, coughing, and either a runny or congested nose. In addition, some individuals have experienced headaches, body aches, and mild breathing discomfort. So far, there is no strong evidence to show that BA.3.2 causes more severe illness than other variants.

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Is Cicada Variant A Cause Of Concern For India?

Experts currently stress that the situation in India does not require much concern. Surveillance mechanisms in the country, as reported by the Times of India, are keeping a close watch on emerging variants, and no major rise in cases linked to BA.3.2 has been observed so far.

Vaccines continue to be regarded as effective in reducing the risk of severe illness. Health authorities advise maintaining regular genome sequencing, carefully tracking hospitalisation patterns, and opting for booster doses whenever necessary.