Kenya issues Mpox outbreak alert after confirmed case at Taita-Taveta border

KENYA—Kenya’s Ministry of Health has issued an urgent notification regarding the Mpox outbreak after a confirmed case was discovered at the Taita-Taveta one-stop border checkpoint.

This notification was conveyed in a statement by Mary Muthoni Muriuki, the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards, who noted that the infected individual had traveled from Uganda to Rwanda through Kenya.

This announcement comes shortly after the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat urged its Partner States to enhance public education on the prevention and control of Monkeypox, now known as Mpox.

Mpox, caused by the monkeypox virus, manifests with symptoms such as skin rash or mucosal lesions, fever, headache, generalized body aches, and swollen lymph nodes.

According to the Ministry’s statement, Mpox can spread from person to person through direct contact with infectious lesions, including those found in the mouth or on the genitals, and through respiratory droplets.

Although Mpox has historically been endemic in the forested regions of East, Central, and West Africa, a global multi-country outbreak has been ongoing since May 2022, with peak cases recorded in August 2022 and November 2023.

The outbreak has been particularly severe in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), whereby in 2023 alone, 14,626 cases and 654 deaths were reported.

By the end of May 2024, the situation had worsened, with 7,851 cases and 384 deaths reported.

In response to this emerging threat, the Kenyan Ministry of Health has issued a public advisory.

The ministry urges individuals to follow key public health measures to mitigate the spread of Mpox, which includes frequent handwashing with soap and water or the use of hand sanitizer.

Additionally, individuals experiencing symptoms of Mpox have been urged to seek medical advice, avoid close contact with others, and visit a nearby health facility for appropriate management.

The public is also advised to avoid close contact with anyone suspected or confirmed to have the disease.

Given that even a single confirmed case is treated as an outbreak, the Ministry of Health has reassured the public of its commitment to managing the situation effectively.

The Ministry is collaborating with County Governments, Port Health Authorities, and other relevant government agencies to enhance surveillance, ensure timely reporting of suspected cases, and disseminate crucial information on preventive measures to the public.

Through these coordinated efforts, the Ministry aims to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread of Mpox, ensuring the safety and well-being of the community.