New Covid Strain has Arizona Health Officials Worried

It has now been six years since the lockdown began in Arizona.

According to ScienceInsights.com, most major shutdowns around the world started in March 2020, mainly between March 11 and March 23, soon after the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic.

Now, health officials have announced that a new variant is causing concern.

Get our free mobile app

scaliger

What We Know About the New COVID Variant BA.3.2

The new COVID-19 variant, called BA.3.2 and nicknamed “Cicada,” is getting national attention. It has started to spread in the U.S., reminding many people of 2020.

This strain has a few mutations; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says it has 70 to 75 changes in its spike protein. And now, health officials are concerned it might be resistant to the currently available vaccines.

anyaivanova

Why Health Officials Are Concerned

The possible vaccine resistance is especially troubling. The CDC says BA.3.2 has “immune-escape characteristics,” and the current vaccines may not protect against this new strain.

While the illness may not be more severe than what we've experienced, treatment could be more challenging for patients who contract it. Health officials are closely monitoring how the virus responds to current vaccines and prevention methods.

Sirichai Saengcharnchai

Where the Variant Has Spread

The CDC and other groups detected BA.3.2 last month. It has been found in several U.S. states through wastewater, clinical samples, and traveler testing. According to Newsweek, these states that have identified infections include California, Texas, New York, and others across the country.

Arizona has not confirmed any cases yet. However, the CDC says that “limited genomic surveillance may mean the variant is present but undetected.”

Drazen Zigic

Typical Symptoms to Watch For with the BA.3.2 Strain

Symptoms of BA.3.2 seem similar to those of earlier strains.

Watch for the following:

Cough, fever, fatigue
Headache, sore throat, body aches
Sneezing, congestion, runny nose
Less common symptoms are night sweats, skin rashes, and sometimes fainting.

READ: When will the next Covid Vaccine come to Arizona?

Chinnapong

What This Means for Arizona

Right now, there are no plans for shutdowns or mask mandates, but as we well remember, things can change quickly. As BA.3.2 spreads across the country, Arizona’s health officials will continue to watch the situation closely.

People with underlying health conditions should take extra precautions and contact a doctor.

Answers to 25 common COVID-19 vaccine questions

Vaccinations for COVID-19 began being administered in the U.S. on Dec. 14, 2020. The quick rollout came a little more than a year after the virus was first identified in November 2019. The impressive speed with which vaccines were developed has also left a lot of people with a lot of questions. The questions range from the practical—how will I get vaccinated?—to the scientific—how do these vaccines even work?

Keep reading to discover answers to 25 common COVID-19 vaccine questions.

Gallery Credit: Stephanie Parker

These 10 Dangerous Cults Still Exist in Arizona

Cults have been defined as "a group or movement with a shared commitment that generally holds an extreme ideology, often led by a charismatic leader." Can you believe it? These ten groups are considered cults, and they can be found in Arizona.

Gallery Credit: Val Davidson/TSM