This Is A Cause For Renewed Concern: "Recombinant" Mpox Strains -- In The Wild, Now -- UK, And India In 2026

As ever. . . the clearest learning from the theory of evolution is. . . that it seeks, inexorably, a "survivable" advantage -- both for a virus, and a host.

So too with viral agents. Here's the latest -- from the UN health authorities:

. . .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. . . .

[This is a biological] 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. . . .

This is a time for exceedingly careful vigilance inside these two countries -- and most of Africa. Onward, to a highly regarded Roald Dahl children's musical play in the Loop. . . smile.

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