The BA.3.2 subvariant of Covid-19, nicknamed “cicada,” is progressing in the United States. It appears to affect children aged 3 to 15 more, without being more virulent. Although not yet present in France, it could soon spread there.
The new Covid-19 variant, BA.3.2, also known as “cicada” or “cigale” in French, is rapidly spreading. This Omicron subvariant seems to primarily target children. It was first detected in the United States in 2025, with most infections occurring across the Atlantic. However, it is expected to soon affect people in Europe and France, according to Antoine Flahault, an epidemiologist and professor at the University of Paris and the University of Geneva.
“When the coronavirus emerged in Wuhan, China in early 2020, the rest of the world believed it to be confined to that region. We saw how that turned out,” detailed Antoine Flahault. Similarly, the Delta variant originated in India and Omicron in South Africa, spreading to all five continents within months. The variant was named “cicada,” in reference to the insect that re-emerges en masse every 13 or 17 years in the eastern United States.
The Chief of Infectious Disease Diagnostic Services at the University of Washington, Dr. Alex Greninger, told CNN that the development of this variant is rather slow. While it doesn’t seem to be deadlier or more virulent than previous variants, it appears to affect children between the ages of 3 and 15 more. “The age distribution of cases infected by this BA.3.2 subvariant is clearly much younger than that of the previous coronavirus variants,” explained Antoine Flahault. “It resembles the age distribution of the flu, where 50% of cases are under 20 years old.”
No cases of the “cicada” variant have been detected in France yet. With rising temperatures, the circulation of Covid-19 in the country is relatively low, with 50 emergency room visits per 100,000 visits, according to data from Santé publique France as of March 30th.
[Context: The BA.3.2 subvariant of Covid-19, also known as “cicada,” is emerging and affecting children more in the United States. It is expected to spread to other regions soon, including Europe and France.] [Fact Check: The information in this article is based on the statements from epidemiologist Antoine Flahault and Chief Alex Greninger, with references to the spread of previous variants like Delta and Omicron.]
