New COVID variant spreads across US as CDC raises concerns: ‘viral evolution’
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A new variant of COVID-19 is spreading across the United States, health officials say.
At least 23 countries have reported the BA.3.2 variant of SARS-CoV-2 as of February 11, according to a study published last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The BA.3.2 variant, which the CDC has been tracking through its Traveler-Based Genomic Surveillance program, has between 70 and 75 changes in the genetic sequence of its spike protein, which is a structure on the surface of the COVID-19 virus that helps it enter human cells.
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This strain has now been detected in nasal swabs from four American travelers, clinical samples from five patients, three airplane wastewater samples, and 132 wastewater surveillance samples from 25 states, according to the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
At least 23 countries have reported the BA.3.2 variant of SARS-CoV-2 as of February 11, according to a study published last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (iStock)
BA.3.2, which began to rise in September 2025, was first confirmed in the US in June 2025 in a person traveling to the US from the Netherlands.
Weekly detections of the variant increased to approximately 30% of cases identified in Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands between November 2025 and January 2026.
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The variant has shown “immune escape characteristics,” the CDC said, meaning it has mutations that may help it partially evade existing immunity from vaccines or previous infection.
This could make infections more likely, but not necessarily more serious, experts say.
The variant has shown “immune escape characteristics,” the CDC said, meaning it has mutations that may help it partially evade existing immunity from vaccines or previous infection. (iStock)
“BA.3.2 represents a new lineage of SARS-CoV-2, genetically distinct from the JN.1 lineages (including LP.8.1 and XFG) that have circulated in the United States since January 2024,” the study authors wrote.
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The prevalence of the new variant may be even higher than the data suggests, as many countries have limited genomic detection and surveillance capabilities, the researchers noted.
“Phylogenetic analyzes have identified the emergence of two BA.3.2 sublineages (BA.3.2.1 and BA.3.2.2), indicating ongoing viral evolution,” they wrote.
CDC researchers noted that continued genomic surveillance is needed to monitor the evolution of the virus and evaluate its potential impact on public health. (iStock)
Because BA.3.2 mutations in the spike protein can weaken protection from vaccination or prior infection, CDC researchers noted that continued genomic surveillance is needed to monitor the evolution of the virus and evaluate its potential impact on public health.
Melissa Rudy is a senior health editor and member of the lifestyle team at News Digital. Story tips can be sent to melissa.rudy@News.com.