The Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed the second case of Mpox in the country.
According to a statement issued by Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Mulongo Barasa on Friday, August 23, 2024, the second case of Mpox was confirmed at Malaba One Stop Border Post in Busia County.
Truck driver
CS Barasa says an adult male truck driver who presented to the Port Health screening desk was found with the disease.
He had salient symptoms of the disease and a history of travel to the epicenter of the o******k in DRC.
28 Mpox contacts discharged
However, the MOH says 28 contacts of the first Mpox case that was confirmed in the country on July 31, 2024, have since completed a 21-day follow-up period without developing symptoms and have been discharged from active follow-up.
“Since declaration of the first case of Mpox disease 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 wishes to inform the public of a second laboratory confirmed case of the disease in the country; an adult male truck driver who presented to the Port Health screening desk at the Malaba One Stop Border Post- Busia County with salient symptoms of the disease and a history of travel to the epicenter of the o******k in DRC,” the statement reads in part.
Second Mpox patient isolated
The Health CS says the patient of the second Mpox case has since been isolated and is under active management in one of the health facilities in Busia county.
To control further spread of the disease, the ministry says active surveillance for suspected cases has been enhanced in Busia and across all counties.
“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,” the statement reads.
MOH further noted that out of the forty-two (42) samples that have since been submitted to government laboratories for Mpox disease testing, forty (40) samples have so far tested negative.
Travellers screened for Mpox
The ministry has screened a total of 426,438 travelers at various Ports of Entry across the country.
“To date, a total of forty-two (42) samples have been submitted to our laboratories for Mpox disease testing out of which forty (40) samples have tested negative for the disease. In addition, we have screened a total of 426,438 travelers at our various Ports of Entry across the country,” CS Barasa said in the statement.
The Ministry has also assured Kenyans that their facilities are adequately staffed and well- equipped to diagnose and manage the Mpox disease, stating that its identification should not be a cause for alarm.