Health officials in England have identified a new recombinant variant of mpox after testing a patient who had recently travelled to Asia. Genome sequencing revealed that the virus combines characteristics of two circulating clades – clade 1, the more severe form, and clade 2, which drove the global mpox outbreak in 2022.
The UK Health Security Agency said further assessment is underway to understand how the new strain behaves, though experts emphasised that viral evolution is expected. While most mpox infections remain mild, officials are urging eligible people to get vaccinated as protection.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, spreads through close physical contact, contaminated materials such as clothing or bedding, or respiratory droplets. Symptoms can appear up to three weeks after infection and include fever, muscle pain, fatigue and a rash that develops shortly after.
The detection highlights the importance of surveillance as mpox continues to evolve. A global emergency was declared in 2022 and again in 2024, when cases surged in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This year the WHO registered nearly 48,000 confirmed cases and 201 deaths worldwide.
UK vaccination programmes remain available for higher-risk groups, including people with multiple sexual partners or those who attend sex-on-premises venues. Scientists say more data is needed to determine how dangerous the new variant may be if further cases appear.
