Kenya Confirms Second Case of Mpox

Kenya has confirmed a second case of Mpox in the country.

In a statement on Friday, August 23, Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa announced that the case was confirmed following thorough laboratory tests on the patient. 

“The Ministry wishes to inform the public of a second laboratory confirmed case of the disease in the country; 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,” reads the statement in part.

“The patient has been isolated and is under active management in one of the health facilities in Busia County.”

In the announcement, the Ministry of Health said active surveillance for suspected cases has been enhanced in the region and across all counties to ensure the spread of the disease is controlled. 

The Ministry confirmed the first case of Mpox on July 31, involving a truck driver at the Taita Taveta One Stop Border Point who had developed generalized rashes on July 22.

MoH Gives Update on MPox

Later, on August 6, the Ministry of Health announced that the patient had fully recovered from the virus.

Also Read: Kenya to Receive 2 million Mpox Vaccines Amid Public Health Concerns

Additionally, the Ministry has reported that 28 contacts of the first case completed a 21-day follow-up period without developing symptoms and have been discharged from active follow-up.

MoH also mentioned that to date, a total of forty-two (42) samples have been submitted to government’s laboratories for Mpox disease testing out of which forty (40) samples have tested negative for the disease.

In addition, the CS said that a total of 426,438 travelers have been screened at various Ports 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,” MoH said.

Plans for Vaccination

This comes after the Ministry announced plans to provide Kenyans with Mpox vaccine to curb the threat of the disease.

Speaking during a press briefing on Monday, August 19, Health Director General (DG) Patrick Amoth revealed that the government plans to procure two (2) million vaccine doses from the Denmark-based Nordic manufacturing company by December.

Amoth explained that once the doses arrive, government will prioritize the most vulnerable groups, similar to the approach used during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Safety Measures to Prevent the Disease

To prevent the spread of the disease, the Ministry urged all Kenyans to regularly wash hands with soap and running water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Also Read: Mpox: What to Watch Out For, Treatment and What to Worry About

Also, Kenyans were advised to practice good hygiene and avoid close contact with individuals exhibiting Mpox- like symptoms and avoid sharing personal items such as towels, utensils, or clothing materials.

They were further asked to exercise caution around wild animals and avoid the consumption of uninspected meat and meat products from wild animals.

“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,” MoH added.

The Ministry encouraged the public to seek accurate information from its Website and Qualified health professionals and urges the public to verify the validity of the content they may encounter on social media platforms online.

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