Hybrid Mpox Strain Detected in England Raises Fresh Questions for Global LGBTQ+ Health

A new recombinant strain of mpox has been identified in England in a person who recently returned from a country in Asia, according to an announcement by the UK Health Security Agency . Genetic analysis indicates that the virus is a hybrid, combining elements of clade Ib and clade IIb mpox, the two major lineages currently recognized by global health authorities.

UKHSA reported that the individual tested positive after developing mpox-compatible symptoms following travel in Asia, and that the person is receiving appropriate clinical care and infection prevention support. Health officials have initiated contact tracing to identify and monitor anyone who may have been exposed, in line with established mpox protocols used since the 2022 outbreak.

Laboratory sequencing conducted by UKHSA’s Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory initially typed the virus as clade Ib, but further analysis showed sections of the genome more closely related to clade IIb, confirming it as an inter‑clade recombinant. Independent sequencing of multiple samples and a cultured virus isolate produced identical results, indicating that the recombinant virus is replication‑competent rather than a laboratory artifact.

Scientists note that clade IIb was responsible for the 2022 international outbreak that spread widely through close and often sexual contact, while clade I has historically been linked to more severe disease and higher mortality, particularly in parts of Central Africa. At this stage, experts emphasize that there is no evidence yet that the new recombinant strain is more transmissible, more severe, or resistant to existing vaccines, and that any such claims would require further data.

According to external expert commentary gathered by the Science Media Centre, the detection demonstrates that continued global circulation of mpox is allowing the virus more opportunities to evolve in human hosts. Researchers argue that this underlines the importance of ongoing genomic surveillance and collaboration between laboratories, clinicians, and affected communities.

The new finding arrives in the context of an evolving mpox landscape. The 2022 global outbreak, driven primarily by clade IIb, saw a disproportionate impact on gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, including many people living with HIV, particularly in Europe and North America. In later phases, health agencies and LGBTQ+ organizations worked together to promote targeted vaccination campaigns, harm‑reduction guidance, and non‑stigmatizing communication.

Media coverage of the current recombinant strain has again highlighted communities that experienced higher risk in previous waves, including men who have sex with men, transgender people, non-binary people, and people with compromised immune systems. Public health experts stress that while acknowledging patterns of transmission is necessary for effective prevention, messaging must avoid blaming or stereotyping any group and instead focus on informed consent, access to care, and voluntary behavior change.

Dr Demetre Daskalakis, an infectious disease specialist who played a leading role in the United States’ mpox response and now serves as chief medical officer at the LGBTQ+ health center Callen-Lorde , told The Advocate that the situation with this new strain remains “watch-and-wait,” underscoring the need for vigilance and strong public health infrastructure to detect changes in the virus.

According to the UKHSA and independent experts, the Modified Vaccinia Ankara vaccine, initially developed for smallpox and later used against mpox, remains a central tool for preventing severe disease, and two doses provide substantial protection against infection with previously circulating strains. Scientists are now assessing whether the recombinant virus affects test performance or vaccine effectiveness, though no change in recommendations has been announced.

Experts interviewed by Gavi and the Science Media Centre point out that while many high‑income countries were able to reduce mpox transmission after 2022 through vaccination and community‑led prevention efforts, access to vaccines, diagnostics, and treatment has been slower and more limited in some African and other lower‑resource settings where mpox has been endemic for decades. African epidemiologists have argued that earlier investment and attention to resurgent mpox in the region might have reduced the scale of the later global spread.

LGBTQ+ advocates say the emergence of a recombinant strain reinforces existing calls for equitable access to vaccines and care for all communities at risk, including LGBTQ+ people in countries where stigma or criminalization may deter individuals from seeking health services. They emphasize that responses must be grounded in human rights, confidentiality, and respect for diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.

For now, scientists stress that the discovery is one confirmed case, not a new large-scale outbreak, but say it should be taken as a reminder that mpox continues to adapt in human populations and that sustained, inclusive public health measures remain necessary.