Early official COVID-19 death tolls may have been undercounted by 19%.
The findings indicate that the US system reported COVID-19 deaths inequitably, which hid the true extent of pandemic mortality and disparities.
Read more: ow.ly/5jH850YwvKp— CIDRAP (@cidrap.bsky.social) March 19, 2026 at 4:37 PM
New COVID variant with immune escape potential confirmed in US & 22 other countries.
BA.3.2 represents a new lineage of SARS-CoV-2, genetically distinct from the JN.1 lineages that have circulated in the US since January 2024.
Read more: ow.ly/Q50350YxOSv
Photo Credit: NIAID— CIDRAP (@cidrap.bsky.social) March 23, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Study: Early Detection and Surveillance of the SARS-CoV-2 Variant BA.3.2 — Worldwide, November 2024–February 2026
Published: March 19, 2026
www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes…— Denis – The COVID Info Guy (@thecovidinfoguy.bsky.social) March 23, 2026 at 9:03 PM
The SARS-CoV-2 variant BA.3.2 was first identified in South Africa on November 22, 2024. BA.3.2 has approximately 70–75 substitutions and deletions in the gene sequence of the spike protein relative to JN.1 and its descendant, LP.8.1, the antigens used in the 2025–26 COVID-19 vaccines. CDC is using a multimodal SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance approach to monitor the emergence and spread of BA.3.2 and other SARS-CoV-2 variants internationally and within the United States. The first U.S. BA.3.2 detection occurred on June 27, 2025, through CDC’s Traveler-Based Genomic Surveillance program in a participant traveling to the United States from the Netherlands. The first U.S. detection of BA.3.2 in a clinical specimen collected from a patient was reported on January 5, 2026. As of February 11, 2026, BA.3.2 had been detected in voluntarily self-collected nasal swabs from four U.S. travelers, clinical samples from five patients, three airplane wastewater samples, and 132 wastewater surveillance samples from 25 states. BA.3.2 has been reported by at least 23 countries. SARS-CoV-2 continues to cause substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. BA.3.2 mutations in the spike protein have the potential to reduce protection from a previous infection or vaccination. Continued genomic surveillance is needed to track SARS-CoV-2 evolution and determine its potential effect on public health…
“There is no indication that BA.3.2 causes a different kind of illness. Like other recent variants, it appears to cause mostly mild, cold-like symptoms, making it difficult to distinguish from other respiratory infections.”
USA: "A new COVID variant is showing up in California — here’s what to know."
"BA.3.2 carries roughly 70 to 75 mutations in its spike protein compared with recent strains… Some of those changes may help it partially evade immunity from past infections or vaccination."
Source: archive.md/ALU3i— Denis – The COVID Info Guy (@thecovidinfoguy.bsky.social) March 24, 2026 at 7:06 PM
USA: Epidemic trend summary: Mar 20, 2026
COVID-19
As of March 17, 2026:
🔹0 states have COVID-19 infections growing or likely growing
🔹45 state has infections declining or likely declining
🔹3 states show no change
Source: cdc.gov/cfa-modeling…— Denis – The COVID Info Guy (@thecovidinfoguy.bsky.social) March 21, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Influenza
As of March 17, 2026:
🔹3 states have Influenza infections growing or likely growing
🔹37 states has infections declining or likely declining
🔹9 states show no change
Source: cdc.gov/cfa-modeling…— Denis – The COVID Info Guy (@thecovidinfoguy.bsky.social) March 21, 2026 at 7:07 PM
RSV
As of March 17, 2026:
🔹4 states have RSV infections growing or likely growing
🔹35 states has infections declining or likely declining
🔹10 states shows no change
Source: cdc.gov/cfa-modeling…— Denis – The COVID Info Guy (@thecovidinfoguy.bsky.social) March 21, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Plagues & Pandemics Update – March 25, 2026Post + Comments (81)
