Buzz Around New Covid-19 Variant 'Cicada': Here's a List of Its Symptoms
A new Covid-19 variant with the code BA.3.2, nicknamed “Cicada”, is currently under global scrutiny. The Ministry of Health has confirmed that, to date, this variant has not been detected in Indonesia.
“As of the end of March 2026, this variant has not been found in Indonesia,” stated Aji Muhawarman, Head of the Bureau of Communication and Public Information at the Ministry of Health, as quoted by detikcom on Wednesday (1/4/2026).
Aji explained that the Covid-19 variants currently circulating in Indonesia are still dominated by XFG (57%), LF.7 (29%), and XFG 3.4.3 (14%). He stated that these three variants are considered low-risk, so the public is asked not to panic but to remain vigilant.
The government also reminds the importance of practising clean and healthy living behaviours (PHBS), such as regularly washing hands, maintaining nutritional intake, getting sufficient rest, and wearing masks when ill or in crowded places.
Symptoms of the ‘Cicada’ Variant
In general, the symptoms of the BA.3.2 variant are not much different from previous Omicron variants. The reported symptoms include:
Sore throat
Fever and chills
Cough
Fatigue
Body aches
Stuffy nose
In some cases, patients also experience headaches, mild nausea, and shortness of breath.
In several countries, the “Cicada” variant is beginning to rise and even contributes a significant portion of Covid-19 cases, particularly in Eastern Europe and some regions of the United States. Experts assess that mutations in this variant make it more capable of evading protection from vaccines or natural immunity.
This has the potential to increase transmission. However, infectious disease experts state that there is no strong evidence that this variant causes more severe symptoms compared to other variants.
Global health authorities note that Covid-19 symptoms, including the latest variants, are often difficult to distinguish from the common flu without testing. Nevertheless, some signs more characteristic of Covid-19 include loss of smell or taste, as well as shortness of breath.
“I have not seen data indicating that the Cicada variant is more severe than other circulating variants,” said Dr Robert H Hopkins Jr, Medical Director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, as quoted from USA Today on Wednesday (1/4/2026).
“A severe sore throat is reported as a fairly common symptom, along with other typical Covid-19 symptoms,” he added.
Additionally, the incubation period for Covid-19 tends to be longer. Symptoms can appear 2-5 days after exposure, even up to 14 days, compared to the flu, which usually appears within 1-4 days.