The Ministry of Health has confirmed the second laboratory-confirmed case of Mpox disease in the country at the Port Health screening Malaba One Stop Border Post—Busia County.
Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Dr. Deborah Barasa said that the second confirmed patient is an adult male truck driver with salient disease symptoms and a history of travel to the outbreak's epicenter 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 revealed that 42 samples have been submitted to laboratories for Mpox disease testing, of which 40 samples have tested negative for the disease to date.
“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.
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Further,she explained that since the first case of Mpox disease was declared on 31 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.”
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 washing hands with soap and running water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, practicing good hygiene, and avoiding close contact with individuals exhibiting Mpox-like symptoms.
She asked Kenyans to exercise caution around wild animals and avoid the consumption of uninspected meat and meat products from wild animals.
