No new Mpox cases within the country – MoH

The Ministry of Health has today given an update on Mpox Outbreak.

In a statement by Health PS Mary Muthoni, the ministry stated that there were no new Mpox cases within the country.

"We continue to monitor the one confirmed case, who travelled from Kampala in Uganda to Mombasa, then to Rwanda through Taita Taveta and Tanzania. The case, a long-distance truck driver, is now back in Kenya," the ministry said.

"We are tracing all close contacts at his workplace, the hospital where he was admitted, and along his travel routes."

The Ministry said following the confirmation of Mpox in the country, it had also taken various response measures.

The measures according to the ministry were; contact tracing, enhanced surveillance, and heightened surveillance in all counties along the Busia to Mombasa highway and the Mombasa to Taveta Road.

This, the ministry said was to identify all contacts and any other unidentified cases.

"Other measures include cross-border communication, deploying rapid response teams, public health emergency operations across the country, incident management teams, monitoring regional outbreaks and public sensitization," the ministry said.

The ministry advised all counties to sensitize the public on the outbreak, necessary preventive measures, and steps to take if they contract the disease, including frequent hand washing with soap and water or hand sanitizer, seeking early treatment, and avoiding close contact with sick persons.

Emergency hotline numbers for the public to report suspected cases and seek further information on the outbreak were also provided.

"The numbers are 719, 0729471414, and 0732353535. The Ministry is working closely with county government authorities, Port Health Authorities and all relevant State Agencies and stakeholders to ensure all necessary interventions are in place to protect citizens from the outbreak," it said.

"For further information, contact the Ministry of Health Hotline 719, or 0729 47 14 14/ 0732 353535."