December 8, 2025

expert reaction to UKHSA announcement of a new mpox strain identified in England

Scientists comment on a UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announcement that a new mpox strain has been identified in England. 

Dr Boghuma Titanji, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Emory University, 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 if the virus continued to spread globally without a decisive response to stop it. Orthopoxviruses are well known for their ability to exchange portions of their genome and recombine to generate new variants, this is a core mechanism of their evolution. The key concern now is whether events like this will alter the virus’s transmissibility or virulence. There are also implications for how well existing testing platforms can identify these emerging recombinant strains. The more mpox circulation we permit, the more opportunities the virus has to recombine and adapt, further entrenching mpox virus as a human pathogen that is not going away.”

Declared interests

Dr Boghuma Titanji: I have no conflicts of interest