The new variant is nicknamed "Cicada" because, like the insects that lurk underground, it has been quietly spreading in the background

First detected by the CDC last summer, health officials are tracking the spread of a new covid variant ‘Cicada’ that may be able to evade immunity.

A heavily mutated offshoot of the Omicron lineage has now been detected globally, the CDC reports.

A newly identified COVID-19 variant is drawing attention from health officials after being detected in the U.S., though early evidence suggests it is not yet driving a surge in cases or severe illness.

In fall 2025, rumors spread that the strain of the virus in circulation that causes COVID-19 had "very different signs" compared to other strains of the virus. Referring to it as "COVID-25," people said doctors were warning about new symptoms and shared ...