For The First Time, A "Hybrid" Mpox Strain Is Seen, In England: Likely Due To A Recent Travel Excursion, Into Asia...

Of course, because the new strain contains elements of both the more serious Clade 1b, and the more benign Clade 2. . . there is no telling where it goes from here -- or whether this strain is susceptible to / vanquished by. . . the existing vaccine stock.

There is no approved vaccine, as this is a wholly new strain. [It would be fair to infer that the existing vaccines should be at least reasonably effective against the new hybrid, based on bio-science -- but the data on that will only come with a rigorous clinical trial, in the future.]

And so, time will tell, but the afflicted individual is in isolation, and the overall risk to the British public is exceedingly low at this point. Here's the Beeb, on the latest:

. . .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 new virus strain contains elements of two mpox strains, called clade Ib and clade IIb. It currently has no name.

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. . . .

Now you know. Do be careful out there, especially if you are prone to intimacy with multiple partners, and in. . . London. Something new [on the longest-duration eclipse of the coming century], shortly. May end up being a destination vacation -- for August 2027 -- in Luxor, Egypt. Smile.

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