The Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed two new reports of Mpox, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to seven.
In a press statement released on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, the Ministry said that the new cases were reported from Makueni and Kajiado counties.
According to MOH, the confirmed cases are now distributed as follows: Taita Taveta (1), Busia (1), Nairobi (1), Mombasa (1), Nakuru (1), Makueni (1), and Kajiado (1). Fortunately, no deaths have been reported among the confirmed cases.
“The Ministry of Health wishes to report that two (2) new Mpox cases have been confirmed in the past 24 hours from Makueni and Kajiado Counties, respectively, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to seven (7). The confirmed Mpox cases are distributed countrywide as follows: Taita Taveta (1), Busia (1), Nairobi (1), Mombasa (1), Nakuru (1), Makueni (1), and Kajiado (1),” the statement read in part.
As part of the response, the Ministry said it has identified, traced, and monitored 61 contacts related to the first five cases. This follow-up period lasted 21 days, with only one of the contacts testing positive for Mpox. Contact tracing is currently ongoing for the two newly confirmed cases.
The Ministry said it has screened 16,033 travellers at Points of Entry (POEs), contributing to a cumulative total of 1,002,621 travellers screened since the outbreak began. The National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) tested 190 samples from 28 counties, with seven testing positive and 178 negative. Five samples are still undergoing testing.
“Further, in the last 24 hours, 16,033 travellers have been screened at Points of Entry (POEs), contributing to a cumulative total of 1,002,621 travellers screened across the 26 POEs since the outbreak began. The National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) has tested 190 samples from 28 counties, with seven (7) testing positive, 178 negative, and five (5) samples currently being tested,” MOH added.
Preventive measures
The Ministry of Health urges the public to adhere to several preventive measures to help control the spread of Mpox:
- Avoid close physical contact with infected individuals or those showing symptoms.
- Do not touch items such as bedding or clothing used by infected persons.
- Limit the number of sexual partners to reduce exposure risk.
- Wash hands regularly with soap and water, or use alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
- Avoid contact with wild animals and refrain from consuming bushmeat.
- Combating Misinformation
The Ministry has raised concerns about the misinformation circulating on social media regarding Mpox, especially about vaccination.
“The public is strongly advised to disregard any inaccurate or misleading information that could undermine public health efforts and lead to unnecessary fear, confusion, and panic,” the statement said.
