A highly mutated COVID-19 variant known as 鈥渃icada鈥� has been detected in Northeast Ohio, according to public health officials, though it does not appear to spread faster or cause more severe illness than other omicron strains.
Cicada, which scientists are monitoring closely, carries an unusually high number of genetic changes.
Dr. Amy Edwards, an associate professor of pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University, said early data suggest these mutations could allow the variant to partially evade the immunity people have built up from previous infections or vaccines.
鈥淭here's a lot of mutations along the genetic material and so it's a little bit better at what we call immunologic escape, meaning for those of us who have had multiple COVID vaccines or multiple COVID infections or a combination, this (variant) is basically escaping that a little bit," Edwards said. "There's a little bit of cross protection from this most recent vaccine that came out in October, but it's not a great match, primarily because of the mutations that we see.鈥�
She said people should still get the vaccine, as it still provides protection against the strain.
鈥淓ven if a vaccine is less matched against a new variant, higher protection in general helps against all versions of the virus,鈥� she said.
Edwards said adults 60 and older and people with chronic health conditions are most vulnerable to severe illness. She said people who are at higher risk should speak with their doctors about whether an additional vaccine dose this spring could help boost protection.
鈥淲e still see daily hospitalizations from COVID. Most are in high-risk populations, but for people who are high risk, COVID is still very much a concern,鈥� said Edwards.
Wastewater monitoring shows cicada is circulating in Northeast Ohio, even as overall COVID case levels remain relatively low compared with last spring.
Public health experts continue to monitor cicada alongside other respiratory viruses, including influenza and RSV, which also contribute to hospitalizations each year.
Edwards said basic precautions such as staying home when sick, hand hygiene and mask-wearing in certain situations remain effective ways to reduce spread.
