UK health agency identifies new Monkeypox strain in England

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has identified a new strain of the mpox virus in England in a person who recently travelled to Asia. Katy Sinka of the UKHSA said: Our genomic testing has enabled us to detect this new mpox strain. The agency said it is still assessing the risk, explaining that the strain contains elements of both known mpox subtypes: Genomic sequencing showed that the mpox genome contained elements of clade Ib and IIb mpox. Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease related to smallpox that causes fever, body aches, and skin lesions. It spreads through infected animals and close physical contact between people. Sinka added Its normal for viruses to evolve, and further analysis will help us understand more about how mpox is changing. Trudie Lang of the University of Oxford warned: It is of concern that there is an mpox case in the UK, and of further concern that it is a new recombinant mpox virus. She added: This case highlights that mpox is circulating globally and is evolving. Boghuma Titanji also said: The identification of a recombinant mpox strain containing elements of both clade I and clade II is precisely what experts in the field feared would happen. Mpox was declared a global public health emergency by the World Health Organization in August 2024 following major outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo but was lifted a month later after cases declined. So far in 2025, nearly 48,000 confirmed cases and 201 deaths have been reported across 94 countries. The UK continues to record low-level mpox cases and operates a vaccination programme for high-risk groups, including those with multiple sexual partners.The post UK health agency identifies new Monkeypox strain in England appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.