The World Health Organization (WHO) is monitoring the situation with a highly mutated strain of COVID-19, which has currently been detected in 23 countries. Cases of the “Cicada” strain, officially known as BA.3.2, have already been reported in the USA, Hong Kong, Mozambique, and the United Kingdom, according to the BBC.
Data analysis suggests that children are more likely to test positive for BA.3.2 than adults, simply because children’s immune systems are weaker.
Like COVID-19, “Cicada” is accompanied by symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, fatigue, headaches, body aches, shortness of breath, and diarrhea.
Should we be worried?
The WHO noted that the new strain poses a low risk to public health.
Both independent experts and WHO experts state that COVID-19 has now become one of the common winter respiratory infections, and people simply need to keep it in mind. We will continue to see the emergence of new virus strains as long as humans inhabit the planet. It is doubtful that SARS-CoV-2 will ever disappear, they note.
Are children at risk?
The first alarming signs of possible vulnerability of children to the new COVID-19 strain BA.3.2 (“Cicada”) came from the USA. Researcher Ryan Hisner, after analyzing morbidity data in New York, reached a preliminary conclusion: children are more likely to test positive than adults.
It is emphasized, however, that this data has not yet been peer-reviewed or published in scientific journals. Nevertheless, Professor Ravindra Gupta of the Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology believes that such a trend is “quite possible.”
Experts highlight two main reasons for the possible vulnerability of children.
The first is the peculiarities of the immune system. The new strain has not been encountered before, and it is difficult for the body to recognize it. Children’s immune systems are less “trained” as they have experienced fewer infections, including COVID-19.
The second possible reason is virus mutations. According to scientists, the altered protein on the surface of the strain may facilitate infection, especially in children. Specialists are currently studying additional samples to confirm this hypothesis.
At the same time, doctors emphasize that most healthy children experience the infection in a mild form. Special attention should be paid to children with chronic lung, heart diseases, or weakened immune systems — they may require medical assistance.
How do symptoms manifest?
There is currently no data indicating that the BA.3.2 (“Cicada”) strain causes a more severe course of the disease compared to other COVID-19 variants.
According to experts, it also has no specific symptoms. The disease manifests in the same way as other forms of coronavirus: fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue, headache, body aches, shortness of breath, and diarrhea.
Specialists note that the virus affects the body in a similar manner regardless of the strain, so the symptoms remain approximately the same.
What is known about the new COVID-19 strain
The BA.3.2 strain received the unofficial name “Cicada” due to its behavioral characteristics. These insects can spend many years underground and then suddenly appear in large numbers. Similarly, after its initial detection, the virus remained inconspicuous for some time and then began to spread actively.
According to available data, the strain was detected in samples from travelers, clinical samples from patients, and wastewater, indicating its circulation in different environments.
The World Health Organization has classified BA.3.2 as a “variant under monitoring.” This means it requires further study, and specialists continue to assess its potential impact on global health.
