Spring has arrived across the United States, but for many Americans, the season has brought more than blooming flowers and warmer days. Instead, a wave of respiratory illnesses is sweeping through the country, with a new COVID-19 variant—dubbed the "Cicada" variant (BA.3.2)—grabbing headlines and raising questions about what exactly is making so many people feel under the weather. Alongside this new COVID strain, influenza, RSV, and even a stubborn norovirus are circulating, creating a confusing mix of symptoms and concerns for families, healthcare workers, and public health officials alike.
So, what exactly is the Cicada COVID variant? According to the World Health Organization and TIME magazine, BA.3.2 is a fresh face in the ever-evolving family of Omicron variants. This particular strain stands out because it carries a whopping 70 to 75 new mutations in its spike protein, making it more adept at slipping past the body’s natural defenses—even for those who have been vaccinated or previously infected. The name "Cicada" isn’t scientific; it’s a catchy nickname inspired by the way the virus seemed to emerge suddenly and widely, much like the noisy insects that appear every summer. But rest assured, there’s no actual bug involved—just a memorable moniker for a tricky virus.
Medical experts like Dr. Geeta Sood, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, point out that the symptoms of the Cicada variant are tough to distinguish from other seasonal bugs. “Unfortunately, there is not really a distinct trait between these respiratory illnesses,” Dr. Sood told NBC News. Common signs include a very sore throat, runny nose, extreme fatigue, persistent cough, and sometimes fever or deep body aches. Some people even report losing their sense of taste or smell, though that’s less common than it was with earlier COVID variants. The bottom line? Without a test, it’s nearly impossible to tell if you’ve got COVID, the flu, or RSV.
The highly contagious nature of BA.3.2 is causing concern among public health officials. Tunde Rasheed, B.Sc. researcher, summed it up: “This new version of the virus spreads much faster than older versions. Because the virus changed its shape, it is better at slipping past your body’s natural defenses. Even if you were sick before or got your medicine shots, you can still catch it. It moves very quickly through places with many people, like schools, large stores, and crowded offices.” This assessment, echoed by Healthline and PBS News, helps explain why so many people seem to be coming down with something all at once.
Despite its ability to spread quickly, the Cicada variant has not caused the kind of dramatic spikes in hospitalizations or deaths that marked earlier waves of the pandemic. According to CDC data, as of mid-March 2026, only about 0.55% of COVID samples in the U.S. were identified as BA.3.2. COVID cases overall remain low, though there are slight upticks in places like Florida and Massachusetts. Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University School of Public Health, told NBC News, “Covid still hasn’t fallen into a predictable pattern,” adding that these small increases “are not something to be alarmed about. We don’t see any concerning trends for Covid right now.”
Still, the CDC is keeping a close eye on the situation. Wastewater surveillance—a method that tracks virus levels in community sewage—has detected BA.3.2 in 25 states. Marlene Wolfe, an assistant professor of environmental health at Emory University and program director of WastewaterSCAN, notes that “the dynamics of when and where we see more cases differs from virus to virus, so it’s important to know what is happening in your community.”
For most healthy individuals, the Cicada COVID variant behaves much like a bad cold or the flu. The majority of people recover at home within a week or two, relying on rest, hydration, and over-the-counter remedies. However, the risk is higher for older adults and those with chronic health conditions. The World Health Organization recommends updated COVID-19 vaccines for previously vaccinated adults aged 75 to 80, and for those aged 50 to 60 with underlying conditions. Dr. Sood advises, “People who are at high risk for complications should consider getting a booster every six months or so.”
Beyond COVID, the spring of 2026 has seen a lingering presence of other respiratory viruses. Influenza A, driven by the H3N2 subclade K variant, caused a surge in cases between Thanksgiving and early January. While the season wasn’t as deadly as the previous year—which saw the highest recorded pediatric flu deaths—tragically, 115 children have died from the flu so far this season, according to the CDC. Influenza B cases are rising in some states, while overall, flu activity is on the decline nationwide. Wolfe told NBC News, “Influenza B is absolutely still showing up in wastewater quite regularly.”
RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is another culprit behind the coughs and sniffles. While RSV usually peaks earlier in the season, it’s still circulating at moderate to high levels in several states, including Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Vermont. “RSV has plateaued, but we are still seeing quite a bit of it in wastewater,” Wolfe said. Some states are even recommending that newborns continue to receive antibodies, an unusual move for this late in the season.
Adding to the mix is human metapneumovirus (HMPV), a lesser-known but equally unpleasant virus that causes symptoms similar to the common cold. HMPV typically peaks in mid-April, and current wastewater data shows it’s circulating at high levels across the country. And let’s not forget norovirus—the infamous "two-bucket disease"—which has been causing outbreaks on cruise ships and in communities, though cases are lower than last season’s abnormally high numbers. “This year what we are seeing looks very much like the pattern we saw before that,” Wolfe said, noting that norovirus appears to be plateauing.
With so many viruses in play, what can people do to protect themselves and their loved ones? The advice from experts remains consistent: wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water, get vaccinated if eligible, wear a mask in crowded indoor settings, and stay home if you’re feeling sick. As the NIH puts it, these simple steps remain the best defense against a host of invisible threats.
For those wondering just how long they might be contagious if they catch the Cicada COVID variant, Pfizer For All reports that people are contagious one to two days before symptoms appear and remain so for eight to ten days after symptoms start. And while COVID is more likely to survive on hard surfaces like plastic or glass, WebMD notes that it doesn’t last as long on porous materials such as pillows and sheets.
Ultimately, while the spring of 2026 may be marked by a patchwork of sniffles, coughs, and aches, healthcare systems are far better equipped to handle these challenges than they were in the early days of the pandemic. Staying informed, following sensible hygiene practices, and looking out for one another will help communities weather this lingering virus season together.