A new variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for Covid-19, was detected for the first time in Argentina. The National Epidemiological Bulletin (BEN) for epidemiological week 34 confirmed the identification of the first three cases of the lineage BA.3.2, a descendant variant of Omicron that is under international monitoring.
The cases were detected through genomic surveillance conducted by the National Administration of Laboratories and Health Institutes (ANLIS) Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán and correspond to residents of the province of Buenos Aires.
Despite the emergence of this variant in the country, health authorities indicated that the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 remains at low and stable levels. Furthermore, the information available so far indicates that BA.3.2 does not represent a substantial additional risk to health.
The symptoms would be very similar to those of the flu
Of the three identified patients, one required hospitalization due to the presence of pre-existing comorbidities. However, all have evolved favorably, according to official information.
What is known about the first cases of BA.3.2 in Argentina
The identification of BA.3.2 arose from the analysis of samples corresponding to the period between April 26 and July 18, 2026.
During that period, 21 SARS-CoV-2 genomes were sequenced, and three of them —14% of the analyzed samples— corresponded to the new lineage. The three cases belong to individuals residing in the Buenos Aires territory.
Although one of the patients required hospitalization, the BEN clarified that the hospitalization was linked to their pre-existing comorbidities. Currently, all three have shown favorable evolution.
Only one of the patients who contracted that disease had to be hospitalized
The Ministry of Health emphasized that, with the available data, BA.3.2 does not currently represent a substantial additional risk to the population. This means that its detection does not imply, by itself, that there is a new public health emergency or that a greater severity associated with the lineage has been observed so far.
Nevertheless, authorities stressed the need to maintain virological and epidemiological surveillance, as well as monitoring severity indicators. The goal is to determine how the variant behaves as more information becomes available.
What is the BA.3.2 variant of the coronavirus
BA.3.2 is a descendant lineage of Omicron BA.3 that was first identified in South Africa in November 2024.
Internationally, it has been classified as a Variant Under Monitoring (VUM). This category implies that health authorities are tracking its evolution and characteristics to detect possible relevant changes. It does not, by itself, mean that it is a more dangerous variant or capable of causing more severe cases.
Before its detection in Argentina, cases had already been identified in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and French Guiana, according to the Ministry of Health.
