Health authorities in England have identified a newly evolved variant of mpox, found in a patient who recently travelled to Asia. Genome sequencing revealed the virus to be a recombinant strain, combining elements of clade 1, known for more severe disease, and clade 2, the type responsible for the global mpox outbreak in 2022.
The UK Health Security Agency said it is assessing the significance of the variant, noting that viral evolution is expected while different strains are circulating. Although most mpox cases are mild, officials urged those eligible to get vaccinated as a precaution.
Mpox spreads through close physical contact with infected lesions, contaminated materials such as bedding, or respiratory droplets. Symptoms can take up to three weeks to appear and typically include fever, headaches, muscle pain, exhaustion, followed by a rash.
The WHO recorded nearly 48,000 confirmed mpox cases and over 200 deaths globally this year. Experts say monitoring the new strain will be vital, particularly if further cases emerge, to understand how it spreads and whether it poses an increased risk.
