A new COVID variant is spreading in the U.S. How worried should you be?
Briefly

A new COVID variant is spreading in the U.S. How worried should you be?
"The BA.3.2 variant has around 70 to 75 mutations in the genetic sequence of its spike protein relative to the strains included in last fall's COVID vaccines."
"Infection rates in the U.S. have been slowly rising since last fall, according to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report."
"The variant had been detected in 23 countries as of February, indicating its spread beyond the initial detection in South Africa."
The BA.3.2 variant, named Cicada, is a new SARS-CoV-2 strain detected in South Africa in November 2024. Infection rates in the U.S. have been gradually increasing since last fall. This variant has a highly mutated genetic sequence, raising concerns about its potential to evade immunity from vaccinations and previous infections. As of February, it has been identified in 23 countries. The CDC's genomic surveillance program first detected it in the U.S. in June, with subsequent findings in various samples across multiple states.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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