First Mpox Genomes from Uruguay Reveal Multiple Introductions and Limited Spread

Researchers have generated and analyzed the first 17 monkeypox virus genomes from Uruguay, resolving a lack of publicly available genomic data from the 2022 global clade IIb epidemic. According to a brief report published in Virology Journal, Uruguay experienced a limited mpox outbreak during the global epidemic. The 17 newly sequenced viral genomes were sampled during the 2022 outbreak and represent approximately 85 percent of the 20 confirmed national cases reported as of 2025.

By integrating phylogenetic inferences with patient travel history and contact-tracing data, the investigation identified evidence of up to eight independent viral introductions into the country. These introduction events involved monkeypox virus lineages B.1, B.1.2, and B.1.6. Genomic and epidemiological tracing linked the introductions to travel from Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, establishing that the pathogen arrived through multiple cross-border events.

Despite these repeated introductions, the study determined that local transmission chains within Uruguay remained short and geographically restricted. These findings indicate that the small scale of Uruguay’s outbreak was driven not by fewer viral introductions, but by limited onward transmission. As the first genomic characterization of mpox in Uruguay, the research demonstrates the importance of combining genomic surveillance with epidemiological investigations during emerging outbreaks.

Subject of Research: Genomic analysis of the 2022 mpox outbreak in Uruguay

Article Title: Genomic insights into the mpox outbreak in Uruguay

Article References: Lima, M. T., Guimarães, N. R., Burgueño, A., Morel, N., Fonseca, V. S., Barbosa, E. C., Adelino, T. É. R., Cortinas, M. N., Bórmida, V., Cóppola, L., Ramas, V., San Martín, R., Trindade, G. S., Kroon, E. G., Giovanetti, M., Iani, F. C. M., Rosewell, A., Franco, L., Méndez-Rico, J., … Chiparelli, H. (2026). Genomic insights into the mpox outbreak in Uruguay. Virology Journal. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-026-03342-8

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s12985-026-03342-8

Keywords: mpox, monkeypox virus, genomic surveillance, Uruguay, phylogenetics, clade IIb, viral lineages, epidemiology, Genomic, insights, outbreak, scientific research