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A new Omicron subvariant is spreading and has also reached Austria. Why experts are closely monitoring BA.3.2.
Since the turn of the year, a new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has been the focus of attention: the Omicron descendant BA.3.2. This variant was first discovered in South Africa at the end of November 2024, but was not officially classified as a variant under observation by the World Health Organization (WHO) until December 2025.
This was a long period of time during which BA.3.2 spread quietly and secretly, earning it the nickname “Cicada.” After all, its emergence is reminiscent of the long underground life cycle of a cicada.
To be precise, the new variant is derived from one of the first Omicron lines, BA.3, which behaved inconspicuously a few years ago, caused only a few infections, and then disappeared again. “At the end of 2024, a version of it reappeared in South Africa. And it had more than 50 mutations in the spike protein – compared to the original BA.3 variant,“ explains virologist Florian Krammer from MedUni Vienna in his podcast ”Virologisch.” However, only a handful of cases were initially detected worldwide – for example, in Germany, the Netherlands, the US, and Australia.
The variant appeared once and then reappeared elsewhere. “It looked as if the virus wasn’t particularly fit,” the expert continues. But now BA.3.2 is being found more and more frequently, and the trend is rising – even in Europe.
“It’s still small numbers. But it’s growing enough that people are starting to worry,” says the professor in his podcast.
Cicada has now also been detected in Austria – at least in wastewater. However, the proportion is still very low compared to other countries. In Germany, on the other hand, the spread of BA.3.2 has increased noticeably in recent weeks. Data from the Robert Koch Institute show that it now accounts for a growing proportion of detected infections and has already been identified as one of the leading variants several times in a row in some regions.
The rapid increase suggests that BA.3.2 is currently catching up with or even displacing other Omicron subvariants such as XFG (“Stratus”) and NB.1.8.1 (“Nimbus”).
Despite this spread, there is no evidence to date that BA.3.2 causes significantly more severe disease than other Omicron variants. Initial epidemiological data suggest that the clinical symptoms are largely consistent with those of earlier Omicron forms – i.e., they tend to be mild or moderate, and severe cases are less common.
However, “this is a variant that is completely different antigenically,” explained virologist Monika Redlberger-Fritz from MedUni Vienna in a recent interview with “Heute.” What is worrying is that BA.3.2 “is not covered by the current vaccines.”
Scientists are therefore observing BA.3.2 with great interest and caution. Its genetic distance from earlier strains also makes it an important model case for how SARS-CoV-2 could evolve further.
- spurce: heute.at/picture: pixabay.com
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