Wetin dey happen? One new COVID variant wey dem dey call “Cicada” don begin show face for America. The variant wey dem dey call BA.3.2 don enter more than half of US states, and dem don see am for wastewater samples for Maryland and Virginia. But for Washington DC, dem never confirm am yet.
How dis variant take start? Dem first see am for South Africa for November 2024. E travel come US by September 2025. The name “Cicada” come because e mutate from omicron strain wey don dey dormant for years—just like how cicada insects dey hide underground for long time before dem come out.
For now, dis variant no dey cause plenty cases. E still dey small percentage of total COVID infections for US. But CDC dey watch am well well. Dem dey use wastewater surveillance to track how e dey spread. Dem don see am for nasal swabs from travelers and samples from sick patients.
Which states don see am? California, Connecticut, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Wyoming. The data stop for February 11, so e no include any new spread for late February or March.
For Maryland, dem get six positive samples. For Virginia, dem get one sample wey dem collect from airplane wastewater for Dulles International Airport. But for DC, dem never confirm any case yet.
Wetin be the symptoms? E dey similar to other COVID infections. Runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing, sore throat, coughing, and changes to smell or taste. Dr. Robert H. Hopkins, Jr., medical director of National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, say severe sore throat na common symptom for dis strain. But e no dey more severe than other variants.
Why dem dey worry? The main concern na say dis variant fit escape the current COVID vaccine. The vaccine wey dey now na to target JN.1 lineage, but BA.3.2 get different spike protein. Dr. Kyle Enfield, associate professor of medicine for University of Virginia, write for The Conversation say the vaccine fit no match well for dis strain.
But Enfield still recommend the vaccine. E say e fit still help your immune system fight all types of COVID. If you worry say vaccine no go protect you well, you fit use other steps—wash your hands, wear mask for crowd, avoid people wey no dey feel well.
Dr. William Schaffner, infectious disease expert for Vanderbilt University Medical Center, talk to PBS say new COVID vaccine wey dey under development fit prevent Cicada variant. But for now, CDC dey encourage people to get vaccination and booster shot, wear masks indoors for crowded spaces.
How e dey spread for world? Dis variant don enter at least 23 countries. For Denmark, Germany, and Netherlands, e dey account for up to 30% of COVID cases. For US, dem don find am for 132 wastewater samples. Dr. Hopkins tell USA Today say e possible Cicada go become dominant strain for US, but e no sure. E say some people dey worry say e fit cause summer surge.
CDC talk for March say dem dey monitor BA.3.2 spread to understand if e fit bypass immunity from past infections or vaccines. Dem no know yet if current vaccines go work against am.
Wetin experts dey talk? Dr. Celine Gounder, editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News, say dem never see evidence say dis variant dey cause more severe disease or increase hospitalizations. Case rates, emergency visits, and hospitalizations dey trend downward for nationwide. But state rates fit differ—Massachusetts and Florida likely get increase in cases.
Study for journal Lancet find say current COVID vaccine less effective against BA.3.2 compared to dominant strains, but e still provide some protection. Dr. Schaffner tell CBS News say dis variant get capacity to evade some protections wey people don acquire over the years.
Who suppose take vaccine? CDC say if you be 65 years and above, never receive COVID vaccine before, or you dey high risk for severe illness, e important to get current vaccine. High risk group include people under 65 with chronic medical condition like heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes, plus those wey immunocompromised.
Dr. Schaffner advise say get vaccine dose towards end of May or beginning of June to provide protection against summer increase. E say dem anticipate summer increase because na so e dey happen before.
For now, CDC and World Health Organization dey monitor dis variant. E dey spread, but e no dey dominant yet. Whether e go become main strain, time go tell. People dey watch.
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