NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya has confirmed one new Mpox case, bringing the country’s total to nine since the outbreak began.
Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa, in a statement, revealed that the latest case is a 37-year-old male truck driver who recently traveled to Rwanda and Uganda.
The new case, detected in Nakuru County, was identified through the Ministry’s robust surveillance systems.
“Our surveillance team in Nakuru County flagged the case. It marks the second Mpox infection in Nakuru,” said CS Barasa.
This new case brings the total number of Mpox cases to nine, distributed across eight counties: Nakuru (2), Taita Taveta (1), Busia (1), Nairobi (1), Mombasa (1), Makueni (1), Kajiado (1), and Bungoma (1).
CS Barasa confirmed that no deaths have been reported among the confirmed cases, highlighting the ministry’s commitment to containing the outbreak.
To date, 227 samples have been tested at the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), with 211 returning negative results and seven still under analysis.
Since Kenya’s first Mpox case—a male truck driver detected at the Taita-Taveta one-stop border post on July 24, 2024—the Ministry of Health has ramped up its surveillance and public health response.
Sixty-eight contacts have been traced, 61 of whom have completed the recommended 21-day monitoring period.
Seven contacts remain under close observation by public health teams and Community Health Promoters (CHPs) across various counties.
In the last 24 hours alone, 15,541 travellers have been screened at Points of Entry (POEs), raising the total number of screened individuals to 1,128,976 across 26 POEs.
CS Barasa urged the public to remain vigilant, emphasizing preventive measures such as avoiding close contact with infected individuals, not touching items like bedding or clothing used by infected persons, and limiting the number of sexual partners to reduce the risk of exposure.
The Ministry also advised regular hand washing with soap and water, using alcohol-based hand sanitizers, avoiding contact with wild animals, and refraining from consuming bushmeat.
“By staying informed and adhering to recommended measures, we can collectively control this outbreak. Vigilance remains key in protecting our communities from the spread of Mpox,” said CS Barasa.
Kenyans are encouraged to report suspected Mpox cases through the ministry’s emergency hotline numbers: 719, 0729471414, or 0732353535.
Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa, in a statement, revealed that the latest case is a 37-year-old male truck driver who recently traveled to Rwanda and Uganda.
The new case, detected in Nakuru County, was identified through the Ministry’s robust surveillance systems.
“Our surveillance team in Nakuru County flagged the case. It marks the second Mpox infection in Nakuru,” said CS Barasa.
This new case brings the total number of Mpox cases to nine, distributed across eight counties: Nakuru (2), Taita Taveta (1), Busia (1), Nairobi (1), Mombasa (1), Makueni (1), Kajiado (1), and Bungoma (1).
CS Barasa confirmed that no deaths have been reported among the confirmed cases, highlighting the ministry’s commitment to containing the outbreak.
To date, 227 samples have been tested at the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), with 211 returning negative results and seven still under analysis.
Since Kenya’s first Mpox case—a male truck driver detected at the Taita-Taveta one-stop border post on July 24, 2024—the Ministry of Health has ramped up its surveillance and public health response.
Sixty-eight contacts have been traced, 61 of whom have completed the recommended 21-day monitoring period.
Seven contacts remain under close observation by public health teams and Community Health Promoters (CHPs) across various counties.
In the last 24 hours alone, 15,541 travellers have been screened at Points of Entry (POEs), raising the total number of screened individuals to 1,128,976 across 26 POEs.
CS Barasa urged the public to remain vigilant, emphasizing preventive measures such as avoiding close contact with infected individuals, not touching items like bedding or clothing used by infected persons, and limiting the number of sexual partners to reduce the risk of exposure.
The Ministry also advised regular hand washing with soap and water, using alcohol-based hand sanitizers, avoiding contact with wild animals, and refraining from consuming bushmeat.
“By staying informed and adhering to recommended measures, we can collectively control this outbreak. Vigilance remains key in protecting our communities from the spread of Mpox,” said CS Barasa.
Kenyans are encouraged to report suspected Mpox cases through the ministry’s emergency hotline numbers: 719, 0729471414, or 0732353535.
