New COVID variant with the ability to evade immunity identified in the US and 22 other nations

Newly Identified COVID Variant BA.3.2 Detected in Multiple Locations

The SARS-CoV-2 BA.3.2 variant, known for its significant mutations, has been identified in at least 23 countries as of February 11. In the US, it has been found in nasal swabs from four travelers, clinical samples from five patients, along with three airplane wastewater samples, and 132 wastewater samples from 25 states, according to a study released last week in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

This variant was first detected in a respiratory sample from South Africa back in November 2024. It possesses approximately 70 to 75 genetic changes in the spike protein compared to the JN.1 variant and its descendant, LP.8.1, both of which are used in the latest COVID-19 vaccines.

Researchers, including those from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), noted that “BA.3.2 represents a new lineage of SARS-CoV-2, distinct from the JN.1 lineages (like LP.8.1 and XFG) circulating in the US since January 2024.” The CDC employs digital public health surveillance to monitor these variants globally.

Detection Rates Rising in Europe

BA.3.2 detections have been increasing since September 2025, with the first identification in the US occurring on June 27, 2025, found through the CDC’s Traveler-Based Genomic Surveillance program in a traveler from the Netherlands.

Ongoing genomic surveillance is essential to follow the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and assess its public health implications.

Between November 2025 and January 2026, nearly 30% of sequences in Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands were identified as BA.3.2. The first clinical specimen of this variant in the US was recorded on January 5, 2026. As of February 11, BA.3.2’s prevalence was 0.19% among 2,579 genetic sequences collected as part of national surveillance starting December 1, 2025.

Research notes that the actual spread of BA.3.2 may be underestimated due to limited genomic detection and surveillance capabilities in many countries. Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses have indicated the emergence of two sublineages of BA.3.2, known as BA.3.2.1 and BA.3.2.2, suggesting the variant is continuing to evolve.

Since the mutations in the spike protein could potentially diminish the effectiveness of vaccines and prior infections, the researchers emphasized the necessity of ongoing genomic surveillance to monitor these changes and their implications for public health.