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A new variant of COVID-19, known as BA.3.2, is spreading across the United States, raising concerns among health officials. First identified in South Africa in November 2024, this variant has been reported in at least 23 countries as of February 11, according to a study published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The variant has been detected in nasal swabs, airplane wastewater samples, and 132 wastewater surveillance samples from 25 states.
The BA.3.2 variant is genetically distinct from previous strains, with approximately 70 to 75 mutations in its spike protein. These mutations may reduce the effectiveness of existing vaccines, which target earlier variants. The CDC emphasizes the importance of continued genomic surveillance to monitor the variant's spread and its potential impact on public health. The first U.S. detection occurred in June 2025 through the CDC’s Traveler-Based Genomic Surveillance program.
While BA.3.2 is not currently the dominant strain, it has been cocirculating with other variants in Europe, with prevalence rates between 10% and 40%. The World Health Organization has categorized BA.3.2 as a "variant of interest" due to its potential to evade immunity from prior infections and vaccinations.
The CDC is continuing to monitor the situation closely, with up to 10.4 million COVID-19 illnesses and between 12,000 and 35,000 deaths reported in the U.S. from October 2025 to March 2026.