New 'Cicada' Strain Of COVID Spreads To NJ: What To Know

A newly tracked COVID-19 variant has been detected in New Jersey and is spreading across the United States, according to a CDC report.

BA.3.2 or nicknamed "cicada" COVID strain

CDC described BA.3.2 as genetically distinct from the JN.1 lineages that have circulated in the United States since January 2024.

The report says BA.3.2 has around 70 to 75 substitutions and deletions in the spike protein gene sequence relative to JN.1 and LP.8.1, which are the antigens used in the 2025-26 COVID-19 vaccines. According to the report, mutations in the spike protein have the potential to reduce protection from a previous infection or vaccination.

CDC reported that the first U.S. detection happened on June 27, 2025, through its Traveler-Based Genomic Surveillance program at San Francisco International Airport in California. The sample came from someone traveling to the United States from the Netherlands.

The first U.S. detection in a clinical specimen collected from a patient was reported on Jan. 5, 2026.

The variant was first identified in South Africa on Nov. 22, 2024, and has since been reported by at least 23 countries as of Feb. 11, 2026, according to the report.

Where in the U.S. has the strain been detected?

The report says BA.3.2 had been detected in voluntarily self-collected nasal swabs from four U.S. travelers, clinical samples from five patients, three airplane wastewater samples, and 132 wastewater surveillance samples from 25 states.

Detections began increasing in September 2025.

In the United States, detections have been reported in:

• California
• Connecticut
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Missouri
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• Nevada
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Wyoming

The first three patient detections in the United States were reported from samples collected during Dec. 4, 2025, to Jan. 4, 2026, in three different states.

The report says BA.3.2 was detected in samples from two hospitalized older adult patients with comorbidities, including one patient admitted four days earlier for cardiac care, and a young child who received outpatient care. All patients survived.

The New Jersey Department of Health did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment on the new strain.

Symptoms

The symptoms associated with the BA.3.2 strain are reportedly similar to typical COVID-19 symptoms.

"Severe sore throat is being reported as a common symptom along with other typical COVID symptoms," said Robert H. Hopkins, Jr., medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases to livemint.com.

The CDC shared a list of COVID-19 symptoms; however, it noted that it does not include all possible symptoms. Symptoms may change with new COVID-19 variants and can vary depending on vaccination status. Possible symptoms include:

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

If you are sick

The CDC advises anyone who is sick to stay home and away from others (including people you live with who are not sick), if you have symptoms that aren't better explained by another cause.

Seek health care promptly for testing and/or treatment if you have risk factors for severe illness; treatment may help lower your risk of severe illness.

When to seek emergency help

Look for emergency warning signs for COVID 19:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Depending on skin tone, lips, nail beds and skin may appear pale, gray, or blue.

If someone is showing any of these signs, call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility. Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.