A new strain has been identified in a man who recently returned from a trip to Asia. According to genomic sequencing results, the virus sample turned out to be recombinant and includes two strains of mpox – classes Ib and IIb. The UKHSA noted that they will continue to analyze the significance of this strain.
Boguma Titandji, an associate professor of medicine at Emory University in the USA, expressed concerns that this discovery is a result of the ongoing spread of the virus and emphasized the need for urgent measures to contain it.
The National Health Service (NHS) of the UK strongly recommends vaccination against mpox for those in high-risk groups. This particularly applies to men with multiple sexual partners and those who have sex with men.
In July 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency due to monkeypox. This status was lifted in May 2023, but in August 2024, due to a new outbreak of the disease, it was reinstated.
The symptoms of the disease include skin rashes with the formation of blisters, spots, or ulcers, which can occur on various parts of the body, as well as manifestations such as fever, headache, and back and muscle pain. The rash usually appears 1-5 days after the first symptoms.
The virus is transmitted through direct contact with rashes, skin lesions, or scabs resulting from the infection, which can occur during sexual intercourse, kissing, or other forms of physical contact.
