The Ministry of Health has sounded the alarm following a surge in confirmed Mpox cases across Kenya, now standing at 314 since the outbreak began in July 2024.
In a press statement issued on August 1, the Ministry expressed concern over the rising numbers and urged Kenyans to maintain strict public health precautions.
“This is not the time for complacency. We are dealing with a highly infectious disease, and the safety of our people must come first,” said Dr. Lilian Mutua, the Ministry’s Director of Public Health.
The majority of the cases have been reported in Mombasa County (146), followed by Busia (63) and Nakuru (21). Twenty-two counties have reported infections, with new cases emerging in Mombasa (3) and Nairobi (1) in the past 24 hours alone.
Five fatalities have been recorded, translating to a case fatality rate of 1.6 per cent, while 222 patients have recovered. Meanwhile, 33 individuals remain admitted in various health facilities, and 54 are under home-based care.
“We want to reassure Kenyans that our healthcare system is prepared. We are enhancing hospital capacity and contact tracing efforts in all affected counties,” affirmed Dr. Hassan Wekesa, a senior epidemiologist with the Rapid Response Team (RRT).
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To date, over 4.7 million travellers have been screened at airports and border points, a key pillar of the containment strategy. Out of 905 samples tested from suspected cases, 314 were positive, giving a positivity rate of 34.6 per cent.
The Ministry has also identified 422 contacts of confirmed cases, of whom 15 have tested positive. Most of the rest have completed the 21-day monitoring period, although a few remain under observation.
“We cannot afford to relax. We are still seeing community transmission, especially in areas with limited health infrastructure,” noted Gladys Mumo, a health surveillance officer in Busia County.
The Ministry has deployed multi-disciplinary Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) to support active case finding, laboratory testing, and isolation efforts. Samples are being processed at the National Public Health Laboratories (NPHL) and partner institutions across the country.
“Community awareness is critical. We urge leaders, media, and civil society to help debunk myths and encourage people to report symptoms early,” urged Dr Kiplangat Lang’at, head of health promotion at the Ministry.
In addition to screening and lab testing, contact listing and tracing are ongoing across counties. The Ministry is working closely with county governments to contain the spread and ensure timely interventions.
“We will not allow this outbreak to spiral. But we need every Kenyan’s cooperation to beat this,” said Health Cabinet Secretary Dr. Mercy Nyongesa in a closing appeal.
KEY STATS AT A GLANCE:
- Total Mpox Cases: 314
- Counties Affected: 22
- Deaths: 5
- Recoveries: 222
- Admitted: 33
- Under Home Isolation: 54
- Contacts Traced: 422
- Positivity Rate: 34.6%
- Travellers Screened: Over 4.7 million
By Joseph mambili
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