What you need to know about new COVID variant
Houston Chronicle • • health
Key Points:
- The BA.3.2 COVID-19 variant was first identified in South Africa in November 2024 and detected in the U.S. in June via CDC’s Traveler-Based Genomic Surveillance program from a traveler arriving from the Netherlands.
- Despite widespread immunity from infections and vaccinations, COVID-19 continues to pose a significant public health risk, with an estimated 390,000–550,000 hospitalizations and 45,000–64,000 deaths during the 2024–25 respiratory virus season.
- As of March 12, the BA.3.2 variant has been found in 23 countries and multiple U.S. states, detected in nasal swabs, airplane wastewater, patient samples, and wastewater surveillance.
- The variant’s numerous mutations may help it evade immunity from vaccines or prior infections, potentially reducing the effectiveness of antibody protection.
- Symptoms of the BA.3.2 variant are similar to typical COVID-19 but include reports of a notably severe sore throat.
