Even though Kenya has recorded only four cases of mpox, the threat posed by this disease is far from negligible.
The strain in Kenya is the clade 1b strain, which has already caused 18,000 suspected cases and 629 deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo this year alone.
One of the most alarming issues is the lack of public awareness campaigns in Kenya to educate the population on the risks and prevention measures for mpox.
This virus, which can be fatal, particularly for those with compromised immune systems, such as individuals living with HIV, must not be underestimated.
The resurgence of mpox underscores the urgent need for robust public health interventions.
Africa, as a whole, is struggling to combat this outbreak due to severe underfunding. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says the continent has secured less than 10 per cent of the $245 million (Sh31.6 billion) needed to fight the outbreak.
This funding gap exacerbates the risk of widespread transmission, making it even more crucial for Kenya to act swiftly.
Kenya must leverage lessons from previous public health crises, such as Covid-19. The key lesson at this point includes the importance of community-led initiatives and, more importantly, effective public health communication.
Quote of the Day: "Suffering isn't ennobling, recovery is."
Christiaan Barnard
The South African cardiac surgeon who performed the first heart transplant died on September 2, 2001
