WHO confirmed that two cases of the recombinant strain – combining genomic elements of clades Ib and IIb of the monkeypox virus (MPXV) – have been identified to date: one in the United Kingdom and one in India. Both patients had recent travel histories, and neither experienced severe illness.
No secondary cases were detected following contact tracing.
WHO has published a detailed update on the two cases and the national responses.
Recombination is a natural process that can occur when two related viruses infect the same person and exchange genetic material, producing a new variant.
According to WHO, detailed genomic analysis shows the two individuals “fell ill several weeks apart with the same recombinant strain,” suggesting that additional undetected cases may exist.