Health officials in England have identified a newly evolved mpox variant after a person who had recently travelled to Asia tested positive for the virus. Sequencing revealed that the strain is a recombinant form combining elements of clade 1, known for more severe illness, and clade 2, the type behind the global mpox outbreak in 2022.
The UK Health Security Agency said the discovery was not unexpected, as both clades are circulating globally, but stressed that the significance of the new strain is still being assessed. Officials reminded those eligible to get vaccinated, noting that most mpox cases remain mild.
Mpox spreads through close physical contact, contaminated materials, and occasionally via respiratory droplets. Symptoms include fever, headaches, muscle pain, fatigue and a rash that develops within days.
The WHO recorded nearly 48,000 mpox cases worldwide this year. Experts say monitoring and genomic surveillance remain crucial to track how the virus evolves. Researchers will now study whether this recombinant causes more severe disease or spreads differently.
If further cases emerge, health authorities will investigate transmission routes and severity to determine whether the variant poses a greater risk.
