'Cicada' COVID variant emerges, raises concerns nationwide

A new COVID variant has been detected in at least 25 states, with experts confirming the mutation was first identified in the United States in June 2025. The BA 3.2 variant, nicknamed “cicada,” was first detected in South Africa in November 2024, and infections in the U.S. began increasing in September 2025, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The variant was found in nasal swabs from four travelers, three airplane wastewater samples, clinical samples from five patients, and 132 wastewater samples across 25 states. Read the full story at https://bit.ly/3QbWftZ _______________ Hit the subscribe button to stay up-to-date on the latest news, and turn on the notifications to get alerted when the big stories break as we bring them to you live! For all the full stories seen here, go to kutv.com. Follow KUTV 2News on our other social media pages for more photos, videos and reports: Facebook: KUTV2News TikTok: @kutv2news X: @kutv2news Instagram: @kutv2news Threads: @kutv2news Bluesky: @kutv2news.bsky.social If you see something newsworthy happen, or you just witness something incredible, hilarious or adorable, you can send your videos, photos and news tips to kutv.com/chimein. We love sharing our favorites on kutv.com, our social media and our broadcasts! You can also submit tips by email or phone. Email: [email protected] Call the Newsroom: 801.839.1234 _______________ KUTV is a Utah-based station and a CBS Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today. Sinclair owns and operates, programs or provides sales services to nearly 200 television stations in 86 markets. Sinclair's television group reaches close to 40% of US television households and includes FOX, ABC, MyTV, CW, CBS, NBC, Univision and Azteca affiliates. #kutv #saltlakecity #news #utah