‘Cicada’ COVID Variant Arrives in Mass., Dodging New Vaccines but Not Driving Surge
The 'cicada' variant slipped into 132 U.S. wastewater samples without triggering CDC alarms. Lab studies suggest it dodges 2025-2026 vaccine antibodies, yet hospitalizations remain flat and WHO calls the risk 'low.' For now, it's a shadow worth watching—not a surge worth fearing.