'Cicada' COVID variant found in 25 US states. See map. - USA Today

A COVID variant nicknamed "Cicada" has been detected across 25 U.S. states, according to USA Today's reporting. The variant's emergence and spread across a significant portion of the country signals continued evolution of the coronavirus as it circulates through the population. Health officials are tracking the variant's prevalence and characteristics to assess whether it poses new public health concerns or differs meaningfully from previously dominant strains. The discovery underscores that COVID-19 surveillance remains an active public health priority more than four years into the pandemic.