The Ministry of Health has announced the detection of five new Mpox
cases bringing the total to at least 28.
The new cases, according to CS Deborah Barasa, were reported from Nakuru county where three cases were found and Mombasa had two cases.
“Our laboratories have confirmed five (5) new Mpox cases this week bringing the total number of confirmed cases to twenty- eight (28) cases across 12 counties,” she said.
The distribution of cases is as follows: Nakuru (9). Mombasa (6) Kajiado (2), Bungoma (2), Nairobi (2), Taita Taveta (1), Busia (1), Kiambu (1), Makueni (1), Kericho (1), Uasin Gishu (1), and Kilifi (1).
Currently, Eight (8) individuals are under management, 17 have fully recovered, while two (2) are in self-isolation with one (1) death recorded.
Barasa said that to date, 204 contacts have been identified, with 147 completing the required 21-day follow-up.
Seven contacts have tested positive for Mpox, and 50 remain under active follow-up.
“A total of 2,207,715 travellers have been screened at various Points of Entry (POE), since the onset of the outbreak in July 2024. The National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) has so far received 322 samples for testing, 28 of which have tested positive, 292 have posted negative results and two are pending,” she said.
MoH has now warned the public to avoid close contact with persons with suspected or confirmed disease.
Mpox (formerly monkeypox) is an illness caused by the monkeypox virus.
Patients present with skin rash or mucosal lesions, fever, headache, generalized aches and swollen lymph nodes.
Person-to-person transmission of Mpox can occur through direct contact with infectious skin or other lesions such as in the mouth or on the genitals.
The disease can also be transmitted through respiratory droplets.
Mpox is endemic in the forested areas of East, Central and West Africa.
To address the outbreak, CS Barasa said the Ministry of Health continues to engage with the County Governments and stakeholders to raise awareness and emphasize the importance of adhering to the recommended Mpox preventive measures.
