Kenya: Mpox Alert with 137 Confirmed Cases Across 17 Counties

Editorial: omar kadir

The Mpox virus has now spread extensively beyond the Northern Transport Corridor to seventeen counties, signifying a concerning nationwide transmission. Busia County reports the highest number of infections with 48 cases, followed by Mombasa (37) and Nakuru (16). Other regions such as Makueni (10), Nairobi (5), Kajiado (3), Bungoma (3), along with several counties reporting one or two cases each, confirm this geographical dissemination of the virus, a disease related to smallpox but less severe.

Actively identifying transmission chains, health authorities have traced 400 potential contacts, of whom 315 have completed the 21-day surveillance period. This process has led to the detection of 15 additional Mpox-positive cases. Concurrently, testing is being intensified, with 597 samples analyzed in national and partner laboratories, revealing the 137 confirmed cases to date. Furthermore, health screening at points of entry has resulted in the screening of over 4.8 million travelers, with suspected cases immediately isolated.

Calling for collective vigilance, the Ministry of Health and its partners are strengthening the response through enhanced surveillance, including active case finding, contact tracing, and patient management. Significant efforts are underway to raise public awareness, notably via the dissemination of 15 million informational SMS messages. The government assures its full commitment to controlling the Mpox outbreak and protecting public health, while thanking citizens for their essential cooperation.