The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has detected a new “recombinant” variant of the mpox virus in an individual who recently traveled to Asia. This new strain contains genetic material from both the more severe clade 1 and the less virulent clade 2, highlighting the virus’s continued evolution. Health officials emphasized that while the emergence of such variants is expected, ongoing genomic surveillance is crucial to understand its potential impact.
Date: December 8, 2025. Source: theguardian.com