Cicada COVID Variant Spreading: Symptoms & Precautions

0:00It's March 31st. From your city to your ears, this is El Paso News today, powered by AI. A new COVID variant called Tsukata, or BA.3.2, is picking up steam across the country. This one's got 70-75 mutations in its spike protein, making it stand out from earlier strains. As of mid-February, it's popped up in 25 US states and 23 countries worldwide. It's worn. These changes help it dodge vaccines in prior immunity, which could spark another summer wave of cases. CDC data shows it's spreading steadily, hitting places from California to Wyoming. Symptoms line up with other COVID strains. Runny nose, headaches, fatigue, sneezing, sore throat, cough, and maybe loss of smell or taste. Some folks report that razor blade throw pain. It mimics the flu, too, with overlapping signs like chills, body aches, and fever. So testing is key to know for sure. Mile cases last one to two weeks, but severe ones drag on for months.

1:03Your contagious up to two days before symptoms hit, and for 10 to 20 days after. Keep testing if you feel off, grab free kits through insurance or local health spots, and stay boosted. Don't watch how this plays out, as summer heats up.