BA.3.2 is a heavily mutated Omicron subvariant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The variant was descended from an ancestral version of Omicron Subvariant BA.3 that had not circulated since early 2022. BA.3.2 is notable for having more than 50 mutations on its spike protein relative to BA.3, and more than 70 spike mutations relative to the original Wuhan wildtype virus. The subvariant, which was first detected in a sample from South Africa on 22 November 2024, was found by researchers to be concerning, due to the sheer number of its mutations. By November 2025, the variant was found to be circulating in multiple countries, including Australia, Germany, and the United States. On 5 December 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared BA.3.2 to be a variant under monitoring (VUM). The variant was nicknamed Cicada by researchers, although the name remains unofficial. - Source: Wikipedia
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