The Ministry of Health has announced that there is no active Mpox virus in the country.
This follows a declaration of Mpox as a public health emergency by the Africa Centre for Disease Control and prevention
On August 14, the World Health Organization similarly declared the event as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).
"The Ministry of Health wishes to reassure Kenyans that there is no active case of Mpox disease in the country following the uneventful recovery of the index case that was identified on July 29, 2024," Health CS Deborah Barasa said in a statement.
Barasa said Kenya reported only one case of Mpox from a person who travelled from Kampala in Uganda to Mombasa, then to Rwanda via Tanzania through Taita Taveta one-stop border point.
"This individual has since made a full recovery and is now well. We have screened 12 persons who came into contact with the index case and another six different suspected cases all of whom have tested negative for the disease," she added.
Barasa said that there are no new confirmed case/s of Mpox reported in the country since the first confirmed case.
Barasa said the two declarations by the continental and global health bodies are similar and highlight the public health threat posed by the outbreak.
She added that there is a need for an immediate and coordinated international response to control the disease.
The Health CS said the Ministry of Health continues to undertake various response measures to prevent new cases of the disease.
The measures are enhanced and heightened surveillance activities across the country to detect all suspected cases.
Kenya will benefit from a Sh2 billion fund that donors are putting together to fight the spread of Mpox.
The World Health Organization said it anticipates an immediate funding requirement of at least $15 million (about Sh1.9 billion) to support surveillance, preparedness and response activities.
Most of the support will go to African countries, the epicentre of the current outbreak.
“We have released about $1.5 million (about Sh193.5 million) from the WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies and we plan to release more in the coming days. We are also appealing to donors to fund the rest of the response plan,” WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom said.