The Ministry of Health (MOH) has issued Mpox advisory for pregnant women days after confirming the second case in the country.
On Wednesday, August 28, 2024, Health Cabinet Secretary (CS ) Deborah Mulongo Barasa in the advisory note disclosed that pregnant women with the Mpox virus can infect the unborn child.
“Advisory for Pregnant Women: Mpox Precautions, Pregnant women with Mpox can infect the unborn child,” MOH alert reads.
Cases of Mpox in Kenya
On Friday, August 23, 2024, announced the second case of Mpox which was confirmed at Malaba One Stop Border Post in Busia County.
According to a statement issued by Health CS an adult male truck driver who presented to the Port Health screening desk was found with the disease.
He had noticeable symptoms of the disease and a history of travel to the epicentre of the O͍utbreak in DRC.
Barasa said 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.
Plans to curb Mpox
On the night of Friday, August 16, 2024, during a live interview on a local TV station, Principal Secretary of Public Health and Standards Mary Muthoni revealed that the country has intensified it’s surveillance systems in all 47 countries especially those at the border point to curb the spread of Mpox.
Muthoni further said that the East African countries are at an advanced stage of further establishing data-sharing models following the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the neighbouring countries which will be criticál in tackling Mpox before it spreads to other parts of the country.
“Kenya has very strong disease surveillance across the 47 counties at all entry points. We are also sensitizing the masses on what they need to do to prevent Mpox,” Muthoni said.
“Cross-border information sharing exists between Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and the neighbouring countries. Efforts are underway to establish formal cross-border data and information sharing.”
Advisory for Pregnant Women: Mpox Precautions #MpoxAwareness pic.twitter.c*m/RKQiqAcrU2
— Ministry of Health (@MOH_Kenya) August 28, 2024