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"Cicada" is trending, but not because it's the season for thenoisy insectsto appear. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization are both monitoring a COVID-19 variant called BA.3.2, which is nicknamed "Cicada."

Where is it?

BA.3.2 was first identified in November 2024 and has since spread to at least 23 countries. It's also beendetectedin at least 25 states in the U.S. as of February, according to the CDC.

But while the variant is spreading here, it's not the dominant strain.

"Whether it will push itself to the front of the line remains to be seen," Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University, told CBS News "We'll have to wait and see."

What is it?

The variant is a member of the Omicron family and is highly mutated, with 70 to 75 mutations. Arecent studyin the journal Lancet found the currentCOVID-19 vaccineis less effective against BA.3.2 compared to the current dominant strains, although it does provide some protection.

"These are still early days, " Schaffner said. "But at the moment the conclusion seems to be there is this capacity for this new variant to evade some of the protections we have all acquired over the years."

Is it more severe?

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Currently the CDC is not reporting a nationwide increase in severe disease from COVID-19. Case rates, emergency visits and hospitalizations are trending downward. But state rates can vary. Massachusetts and Florida are estimated as likely having an increase in cases.

"We haven't seen evidence of this variant causing more severe disease or an increase in hospitalizations elsewhere," according to CBS News medical contributor Dr. Celine Gounder, editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News.

What to know about symptoms

Symptoms of COVID-19include fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat and congestion.

The CDC says it's important to get the current COVID vaccine if you are ages 65 and older, have never received a COVID vaccine or are at high risk for severe illness from COVID. The high-risk group includes people younger than age 65 with a chronic medical condition like heart disease, lung disease or diabetes, as well as those who are immunocompromised.

"Get a dose of the vaccine towards the end of May, beginning of June in order to provide some protection against the summer increase," Schaffner advised. "We anticipate that will happen because that's what's happenedin the past."

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By Ayose Naranjo

Cubans hold an anti-imperialist march in Havana

HAVANA, April 2 (Reuters) - Cuban activists paraded on Thursday on bikes and electric tricycles along Havana's waterfront ‌Malecon boulevard, accompanied by Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, in ‌a show of defiance amid U.S. efforts to starve the island of fuel.

Participants ​in the government-organized caravan rode past the U.S. Embassy in the Cuban capital, their electric and pedal-powered vehicles displaying flags and banners attacking the sanctions imposed on the country by President Donald Trump's administration.

The ‌rally came a day ⁠after Cuba's top diplomat in Washington publicly invited the U.S. government to help overhaul Cuba's crippled economy ⁠as part of ongoing negotiations that have yet to yield results.

Participants in the rally said they favored talks with the United States ​but demanded ​respect for Cuba.

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"I believe that ​genuine dialogue between both governments ‌is possible, but international law and our country's autonomy must be respected," said Sheila Ibatao, a Havana law student and participant.

Diaz-Canel did not speak during the event.

The Cuban government often organizes large rallies at the U.S. Embassy. This caravan was smaller and more ‌discreet, hampered by fuel shortages that ​have crippled mobility and hobbled public transportation.

A ​Russian-flagged tankership arrived in ​Cuba this week and off-loaded 700,000 barrels of ‌crude oil, promising some relief in ​the coming weeks.

The ​Trump administration, which has threatened to slap tariffs on countries that export oil to Cuba and explicitly prohibited imports of ​Russian oil, said ‌it allowed the Russian-flagged tanker to dock in Cuba's ​Matanzas port for humanitarian reasons.

(Reporting by Ayose Naranjo; Editing ​by Dave Sherwood and Will Dunham)

A recent inspection at the nation'slargest immigration detention facilityfound dozens of violations of national standards that potentially exposed detainees to excessive force, disease, and other unsafe conditions.

Immigration Detention Conditions

Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Office of Detention Oversight performed a congressionally mandated inspection over three days in February at Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas, according to areport posted onlineby ICE this week.

The report documents 49 deficiencies, which it defines as violations of detention standards or policies, in areas including the use of force and restraints, security, medical care and more. It was the first inspection released by that office since Camp East Montana was hastily built and opened last summer.

Attorney calls inspection findings 'scathing'

The number of deficiencies at the camp is highly unusual. The most found in any other inspection by the oversight office so far this year was 13.

"This report is scathing. Camp East Montana gets an F," said attorney Randall Kallinen, who represents the family of a36-year-old detainee who diedthere in January — one of at least three deaths since its opening. "It's very dangerous. Not only are the detainees in danger of excessive force, they are also in danger of improper or negligent medical care and mental health care, as well as danger from other detainees."

The report comes as ICE's parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, ispausing the purchaseof warehouses intended to house up to 7,000 or more immigrants at a single location. ICE data through Feb. 5 shows that Camp East Montana has been the largest detention site, housing nearly 3,000 detainees per day, the majority of whom are men who have not been convicted of crimes.

The inspection was conducted before ICE moved last month toreplace the prime contractor, Acquisition Logistics LLC, amid intense scrutiny over conditions at Camp East Montana. The company had been awarded a contract worth up to $1.3 billion to build and operate the camp, even though it had no experience in the field. The company and its president, Ken Wagner, didn't respond to messages seeking comment.

Lawmaker calls ICE 'uninterested' in improving conditions

A more experienced contractor, Amentum Services, took over operations at Camp East Montana on March 12. A federal database says its nearly $453 million no-bid contract to provide detention, transportation and medical services runs through Sept. 30.

Detainees usually live at Camp East Montana for several days or weeks while they are awaiting deportation or before they are transferred elsewhere.

U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, an El Paso Democrat who has toured and met with detainees at the facility several times, said the inspection findings were "a drop in the bucket of what is so profoundly wrong with that facility." She said detainees have consistently complained of medical neglect and other problems.

She said conditions have not improved and wonders whether that is by design to pressure detainees to agree to self-deport.

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"ICE is completely uninterested in really creating any change or holding the contractor accountable," she said.

An ICE spokesperson said the new contract will result in improved medical care, more staff on site and stricter oversight by ICE.

Report documents safety issues

The inspection report documented a series of safety lapses found during Acquisition Logistics' tenure. Camp staff didn't document whether they were conducting required checks to prevent self-harm and suicide, which 911 calls show have been a major problem at the facility.

Acquisition Logistics refused to provide information about staffing levels to ICE, which made it impossible to determine whether they were sufficient to maintain security, according to the report. In one instance, a detainee escaped when there was no staff assigned to watch the perimeter fences.

Inspectors found that tools and equipment were "unsecured and unaccounted for throughout the facility" and that staff did not maintain an accurate inventory of its ammunition.

Security guards who used and witnessed the use of force and restraints such as handcuffs failed to file written reports as required in some instances, the report said.

Supervisors also didn't document their observations, staff failed to record or preserve video recordings in some cases, and the facility did not review incidents afterward to examine whether chemical agents or other types of force were used appropriately.

Medical staff failed to isolate a detainee who had symptoms consistent with tuberculosis, which spreads through the air, and did not notify ICE of the case.

The camp also acted slowly in response to a dozen grievances filed by detainees about medical care, taking between six and 14 business days to respond, the report said.

Despite the problems, the report gave the camp an "acceptable/adequate" rating and recommended ICE work with the new contractor "to resolve the deficiencies that remain outstanding."

It pushed back on one of the most common complaints from detainees: that the food portions were too meager. It said the food service program, run by subcontractor Disaster Management Group, provided certification from a dietitian that the "average daily caloric provision of the menu" met federal recommendations.