The virus is a mix of two major types of the mpox virus, and was found in someone who recently returned from travelling in Asia. Officials say they are still assessing the significance of the new strain. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says it is normal for viruses to evolve. Getting vaccinated remains the best way to protect against severe disease - although an mpox infection is mild for many. The new virus strain contains elements of two mpox strains, called clade Ib and clade IIb. UK health officials recently encouraged gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men to make sure they were vaccinated against mpox. That call came as a strain called 'clade Ib' showed early signs of local spread in some European countries. Clade IIb is linked to a global outbreak of mpox in 2022 which affected many countries worldwide. In the UK, vaccination is available for groups of people at highest risk of catching mpox.

Health officials say the vaccine is 75-80% effective at protecting against mpox. There have been no studies on how well the vaccine protects against this latest strain, although it's thought there will be a high degree of protection. Dr Katy Sinka, head of sexually transmitted infections at UKHSA, said genomic testing had allowed detection of the new strain. "It's normal for viruses to evolve, and further analysis will help us understand more about how mpox is changing. "Getting vaccinated is a proven effective way to protect yourself against severe disease, so please make sure to get the jab if you are eligible," she said. (BBC)