9th November, 2024
Kenya’s Ministry of Health has urged citizens to exercise caution following the confirmation of three new mpox cases, ending a month-long break in reported cases and raising the national case count to 17.
In a statement released Friday evening, Cabinet Secretary for Health Deborah Barasa announced that the government has intensified its public health response to curb the spread of mpox.
She advised Kenyans to avoid non-essential travel to regions with active mpox outbreaks.
The three recently confirmed cases are under medical supervision, while 13 previously reported patients have fully recovered. One death has been recorded from the disease.
“So far, 83 contacts have been identified, with 78 completing the required 21-day follow-up. Of these contacts, three have tested positive for mpox, and two remain under active follow-up,” Barasa detailed.
Barasa urged citizens to observe preventive measures, such as avoiding close contact with infected individuals or their personal items, limiting the number of sexual partners to reduce exposure risk, and practicing good hygiene through frequent handwashing or hand sanitizer use.
Kenya’s screening efforts, conducted at 26 entry points, have included over 1.7 million travelers, reflecting the country’s commitment to monitoring the spread of the virus.
The Ministry also revealed that Kenya is set to receive 50,000 doses of the mpox vaccine in December, as part of a World Health Organization-led initiative. Kenya is one of five African nations in line to receive these vaccines, which aim to contain the disease’s spread across the continent.
According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), other African nations with mpox cases—including Burundi, Liberia, Uganda, and South Africa—have reported no new cases in the past six weeks. Nonetheless, Africa remains in the acute phase of the outbreak, with over 50,000 cases recorded this year.
Mpox, also known as monkeypox, was first identified in 1958 in laboratory monkeys.
The rare viral infection spreads through body fluids, respiratory droplets, and contaminated materials, typically causing symptoms such as fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.
