A new recombinant strain of the mpox virus has emerged, with two cases detected in the UK and India, according to health officials. In Brazil, the state of São Paulo has reported 44 confirmed cases of mpox in 2026, as per the Strategic Information Center for Health data. For comparison, 422 cases were documented throughout 2025, totaling 6,048 cases since the virus was first confirmed in the state in 2022.

The World Health Organization has noted that the identification of this new strain in the UK and India suggests that the virus may be circulating more broadly than previously acknowledged. However, the global risk assessment for mpox remains unchanged despite these findings. The patients in the UK and India displayed symptoms consistent with prior mpox cases and did not experience severe health issues, indicating that current public health measures may be effective at preventing serious outcomes.

Contact tracing efforts for the two newly identified cases did not uncover any subsequent infections, which may indicate a limited immediate impact. Health authorities are continuing to monitor the situation closely in light of the new strain and are urged to remain vigilant as the presence of variants can alter both transmission dynamics and vaccine efficacy against the virus.