Overview
- UKHSA identified a single Mpox infection in England through genomic sequencing and described the virus as genetically distinct.
- Official descriptions differ on the lineage, with one report linking it to clade Ib and another describing a recombinant Ib/IIb strain under evaluation.
- Accounts also diverge on recent travel history, with one citing West Africa and another Asia, and the source is still being investigated.
- The patient is in isolation, contacts are being traced, and no secondary cases have been reported so far.
- UKHSA has shared findings with WHO, is reviewing vaccine implications, and continues to recommend vaccination for eligible groups with studies indicating 75–80% effectiveness.