Cicada Covid Subvariant Found in 23 Countries, Not Yet in Brazil

Overview

• Brazil’s Health Ministry says there are no confirmed BA.3.2 cases in the country and reports four other variants in circulation, led by Stratus (XFG).
• Scientists tracking BA.3.2 report about 70 to 75 changes on the virus’s spike protein that help it dodge antibodies, yet health bodies see no rise in disease severity.
• The CDC has logged detections in at least 23 countries, with U.S. finds in traveler testing, clinical samples, aircraft sewage, and 132 wastewater samples across 25 states.
• First identified in South Africa in November 2024, the lineage grew again from September 2025 and reached roughly 30% of sequences in Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands by early 2026.
• Experts say vaccines still protect well against severe Covid-19, with Brazil focusing boosters on priority groups and regulators prepared to update vaccine composition if trends shift.