The Ministry of Health has confirmed the second laboratory confirmed case of the Mpox disease in the country.
Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Dr. Deborah Barasa said that the second confirmed patient is an adult male truck driver who presented to the Port Health screening desk at the Malaba One Stop Border Post- Busia County with salient symptoms of the disease and a history of travel to the epicenter of the outbreak in DRC.
“The patient has been isolated and is under active management in one of our health facilities in Busia County. Further, active surveillance for suspected cases has been enhanced in the region and across all counties to ensure the spread of the disease is controlled,” explained Dr. Barasa.
The CS said that to date, a total of 42 samples have been submitted to laboratories for Mpox disease testing out of which 40 samples have tested negative for the disease.
“In addition, we have screened a total of 426,438 travelers at our various points of Entry across the country. The Ministry emphasizes that our health facilities are adequately staffed and well- equipped to diagnose and manage this disease and therefore its identification should not be a cause for alarm,” said Dr. Barasa.
The CS explained that since declaration of the first case of Mpox disease on 31st July 2024, 28 contacts of the said case have completed a 21-day follow-up period without developing symptoms and have been discharged from active follow-up.
“The Ministry of Health expresses its deep gratitude to every Kenyan for their unwavering cooperation and support in the ongoing fight against the Mpox outbreak in the country. Your collective commitment and adherence to the containment measures and directives issued by the government have been commendable,” said the CS.
Dr. Barasa said that to prevent the spread of the disease, the ministry has been calling on all Kenyans to observe the recommended public health measures which include regularly wash hands with soap and running water or use an alcohol based hand sanitizer, practicing good hygiene, and avoiding close contact with individuals exhibiting Mpox- like symptoms.
“We are urging Kenyans to avoid sharing personal items such as towels, utensils, or clothing materials. If you or your loved one exhibits or has been in contact with someone with Mpox disease signs and symptoms visit the nearest health facility for assessment by a qualified health professional,” said the CS.
She asked Kenyans to exercise caution around wild animals and avoid the consumption of uninspected meat and meat products from wild animals.
“The Ministry encourages the public to seek accurate information from our website and qualified health professionals and urges the public to verify the validity of the content they may encounter on social media platforms online. We will continue to provide regular updates as more information becomes available, to ensure the public is well- informed and protected,” assured the CS.
Dr. Barasa said that the ministry will continue to monitor the situation and take all necessary measures to safeguard the health and safety of all Kenyans.
“Let us all be vigilant and continue adhering to the preventive measures to keep our families and our nation safe. For more information or assistance, please contact the ministry hotlines at 719 or +245729471414 / +254732353535,” said the CS.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a
