The Ministry of Health (MoH) has announced that eight patients who were diagnosed with Mpox have fully recovered and returned home to their families.
This comes as the country continues to battle the viral disease, which has seen a total of 13 confirmed cases so far.
Director General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth confirmed the development, highlighting that while eight patients have fully recovered, four others are still undergoing treatment. He reported that one patient, despite having initially recovered from the virus, passed away due to a pre-existing medical condition.
“We have recorded 13 cases of Mpox so far. Eight of those patients have fully recovered and gone home, and four are currently undergoing treatment. Unfortunately, we lost one person after recovery from Mpox. That is because the person had a pre-existing medical condition,” Dr. Amoth explained.
Mpox has been spreading sporadically in various parts of the world, and Kenya has seen an increase in cases in recent months. The virus is primarily transmitted through close contact with an infected person, contaminated materials, or animals.
Mpox testing kits
In response to the rise in cases, Kenya recently received a shipment of Mpox testing kits and medications for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). These supplies were delivered through a partnership between the World Health Organization (WHO), USAID, and other global health partners.
On Monday, October 14, 2024, Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa emphasized the critical role these contributions will play, particularly in advancing mass drug administration (MDA) programs. She highlighted that the medicines will focus on combatting lymphatic filariasis, soil-transmitted helminths, and schistosomiasis, which are still widespread in the country’s high-burden regions.
Barasa expressed deep appreciation for the donations from WHO and its partners, describing them as a vital resource for the most vulnerable populations. She reaffirmed the Health Ministry’s commitment to ensuring that no community is left behind in the fight against these diseases.
The introduction of new Mpox testing kits will also greatly enhance Kenya’s capacity to detect and respond to the rising number of cases.
WHO’s Representative to Kenya, Abdourahmane Diallo, highlighted the significance of the NTD medicine donation, which includes 15,215,000 tablets worth USD 1.6 million (Ksh206.4 million), to be distributed during the October MDA campaign.
Diallo reiterated WHO’s ongoing support for Kenya’s ambitious target of eliminating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), such as schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiases, by 2030.
