Covid-19 Cicada variant poses low riskThe Covid-19 variant Cicada, detected in the United States and 22 other countries, will eventually reach Thailand but poses no serious threat and requires no new vaccines, the Ministry of Public Health said. First identified in South Africa in November 2024, the BA.3.2 variant was nicknamed "Cicada" for re-emerging after circulating at low levels for an extended period. No cases have been detected in Thailand so far, said Dr Sopon Iamsirithaworn, deputy permanent secretary for public health. Symptoms are mostly mild and flu-like, though the elderly and those with underlying conditions face higher risks. While the variant is likely to arrive, it is not severe, and remains under surveillance, he added.

Source: Bangkok Post March 29, 2026 03:31 UTC