New ‘Cicada’ COVID Strain Prompts Alert as Symptoms Emerge

Flu and Covid, including a new variant called BA.3.2, nicknamed “cicada,” are still circulating, along with several other respiratory illnesses and a nasty stomach bug.

While the latest variant, called Cicada, carries more mutations, it’s still part of the Omicron family that emerged in 2021.

Cicada is in the Omicron lineage and was first identified in 2024.

Experts have been quick to reassure the public after the deaths aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, but images and turns of phrase have rekindled anxieties from Covid’s early days.

They can cause all sorts of unpleasant symptoms. Certain symptoms, like a sore throat or fatigue, are hallmarks of all three. We asked doctors to explain the differences between cold, flu, and COVID symptoms so you can get a better idea of what you’re dealing with.

San Diego musician Drew Andrews was cooking soup on March 22, when out of the blue, he lost his sense of taste and smell. Actress Rita Wilson described losing her sense of taste and smell before developing other symptoms more commonly associated with the ...

A quick breakdown of how hantavirus spreads, symptoms to watch for, and how much risk most people actually face.