Govt confirms fourth case of Mpox

PS of the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni in the past. PHOTO/@MOH_Kenya/X
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The Ministry of Health has confirmed one new case of Mpox, bringing the total number of cases in the country to four.

According to Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni, the latest case was reported in Nakuru County.

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“One new confirmed Mpox case has been reported in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases to four,” Muthoni said.

The confirmed cases are now distributed across four counties: Taita Taveta, Busia, Nairobi, and Nakuru, with one case reported in each location.

The National Public Health Laboratory has processed a total of 90 samples, of which four have tested positive for Mpox, while two are pending confirmation.

The PS has said that health authorities are currently monitoring 30 contacts across Busia, Mombasa, Nairobi, and Nakuru counties. These contacts are under follow-up to prevent further spread of the virus.

Meanwhile, Kenya’s Points of Entry (PoEs) have intensified screening measures. In the last 24 hours alone, 16,533 travellers were screened for symptoms of Mpox. To date, a total of 599,380 travellers have been screened across 26 PoEs.

Despite the rise in cases, no deaths have been reported in the country so far.

The Ministry of Health continues to urge the public to remain vigilant and to adhere to health guidelines to prevent the spread of Mpox.

Mpox stigmatization

Earlier, the Ministry of Health (MoH) asked the public to avoid stigmatizing and discriminating against individuals affected by Mpox, encouraging empathy and understanding instead.

“Avoid stigma and discrimination around Mpox. Let’s support those affected with empathy and understanding. #MpoxAwareness,” the ministry said. 

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