Health officials in England have identified a newly evolved mpox variant after testing a person who recently travelled to Asia. Genome sequencing revealed that the virus is a recombinant strain containing elements of two circulating mpox types – the more severe clade 1 and the milder clade 2, which triggered the global outbreak in 2022.
The UK Health Security Agency is assessing how significant the new variant could be, but said that its emergence was not unexpected, as both clades are currently circulating. While most mpox cases tend to be mild, experts have urged those eligible to get vaccinated for protection.
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is related to smallpox and spreads through close contact with blisters, contaminated materials such as bedding or clothing, or respiratory droplets. Symptoms can take up to three weeks to appear and often begin with fever, headache and fatigue, followed by a rash.
Health authorities stress that viruses naturally evolve, and continued genomic surveillance will be important to monitor whether this strain behaves differently. The World Health Organization recorded nearly 48,000 confirmed cases globally in 2025. The UK continues to offer vaccination to higher-risk groups, including people with multiple sexual partners or those attending sex-on-premises venues.
Experts say that if more cases of this recombinant strain appear, it will be vital to understand how it spreads and whether it poses a greater or lesser risk than previous variants.
