A new Covid variant, BA.3.2, is spreading across the United States and may be able to evade protection from current vaccines, according to a report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The variant, descended from omicron, was first detected in South Africa in 2024 and in the US in June 2025 in a traveller from the Netherlands. It has since been reported in 23 countries and has been detected in nasal swabs from four American travellers and clinical samples from five patients in four unidentified states. Wastewater samples from more than 20 states suggest its reach is far more widespread.
BA.3.2 carries approximately 70 to 75 genetic changes in its spike protein, making it easier for the virus to spread and evade immune protection. Lab studies showed that the strain evades antibodies activated by Covid vaccines, likely because of these mutations. The 2025–2026 LP.8.1-adapted mRNA Covid-19 vaccine demonstrated the lowest antibody neutralisation against BA.3.2 in a study of seven variants.
The variant has been found in 25 states, including California, Florida, New York, and Texas. However, it is not currently one of the dominant variants in the US, and reported cases have not been more severe than other infections. The variant was detected in three hospitalised patients in December and January, including two older adults with additional health conditions and a young child who received outpatient care. All survived.
Researchers emphasised that detection in hospitalised patients does not necessarily indicate more severe disease. With Covid now considered endemic, viruses will continue to mutate. Scientists urge continued vigilance to reduce transmission and limit opportunities for the virus to evolve.
