Health officials in England have identified a new recombinant variant of the mpox virus, formerly known as monkeypox, in a traveler, according to a report from The Guardian.
Genomic sequencing confirmed that the virus is a recombinant form, containing elements from two mpox lineages currently spreading worldwide: Clade 1 and Clade 2.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced it is currently assessing the risk level of this newly detected variant. Although most mpox infections remain mild, the agency encouraged eligible individuals to continue receiving vaccinations as a precaution.
Dr. Katty Sinka, head of sexually transmitted infection services at the UK’s NHS, said:
“Viruses naturally evolve. Further analysis will help us better understand how mpox is changing.”
Symptoms typically appear within three weeks, beginning with fever, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue, followed by a distinctive skin rash.
The UKHSA noted that the emergence of a recombinant strain was not unexpected, given the simultaneous circulation of multiple mpox lineages.
Professor Trudie Lang of the University of Oxford stressed the importance of monitoring: “If additional cases appear in the UK or elsewhere, it will be vital to understand how this strain spreads, the severity of illness it causes, and whether it differs significantly from previous variants.”
The news comes against the backdrop of continued global health monitoring.
The World Health Organization declared two public health emergencies in recent years: one in 2022 during a major dengue outbreak, and another in 2024, following another severe dengue wave in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The latest emergency ended in September 2025.
WHO data up to October 2025 shows nearly 48,000 confirmed dengue cases worldwide, including 201 deaths across 94 countries.
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