The Ministry of Health has issued an update on the status of the Mpox outbreak in the country.
In a statement published on Friday, September 20, 2024, the Principal Secretary (PS) for Public Health and Professional Standards in the Ministry of Health, Mary Muthoni confirmed that no new Mpox case has been reported since the last update.
According to Muthoni, the country has reported zero death cases related to Mpox.
“Updated Mpox Summary: Zero new Mpox cases reported since the last update. Zero deaths reported,” the PS reported.
Contact tracing
With the disease being highly infectious, the PS indicated in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health has screened 17,109 travellers at the Point Of Entry (POEs), adding that a total of 914,638 travellers have been screened in 26 POEs since the outbreak.
She further confirmed that all 61 people who were in contact with the confirmed cases have been released after being traced and tested.
“In the last 24 hours, 17,109 travellers have been screened at the POEs. Cumulatively, 914,638 travellers have been screened in 26 POEs,” she stated.
“Sixty-one contacts of the confirmed cases have been followed up for 21 days and all the contacts have been released from follow-up. Only one tested positive for Mpox.”
Additionally, the PS disclosed that the National Public Health Laboratories (NPHL) has received 165 samples with five testing positive, 157 negative, and three pending results.
“The NPHL has received 165 samples: five positive, 157 negative, and three pending results,” she indicated.
Other response measures the Ministry of Health has continued to undertake include:
- The ministry has deployed a rapid response team to support the affected counties with detailed investigations.
- The ministry has also activated the Public Health Emergency Operation Centres across the country.
- Incident management teams have been established to coordinate response activities.
- The ministry is monitoring the evolution of the outbreak in our neighbouring countries to assess the risk of regional transmission and appropriately adjust our response measures.
- All counties have been advised to sensitize the public on the outbreak and the requisite preventive measures necessary to avoid contracting the disease and also the steps to take when they contract the disease including frequent hand washing with soap and water or hand sanitizer, seeking treatment early when infected and avoiding close contact with sick persons.
- The ministry has provided emergency hotline numbers for the public to report suspected cases and seek further information on the outbreak. The numbers are 719, 0729471414 and 0732353535.
Counties with Mpox case
Since the outbreak of Mpox in the country, patients from only five counties have tested positive for Mpox with each county reporting one case.
“Five confirmed Mpox cases in the country; Taita Taveta, Busia, Nairobi, Mombasa and Nakuru (each reporting one case),” Muthini disclosed.
The first patient who was a truck driver was identified on July 22, 2024, along the Taveta One Stop Border Point.
UPDATED MPOX Summary
Key highlights (19 Sept 2024):
1. Zero (0) new Mpox cases reported since the last update
2. Five (5) confirmed Mpox cases in the country; Taita Taveta (1), Busia (1), Nairobi (1), Mombasa (1) and Nakuru (1)
3. Sixty-one (61) contacts of the confirmed cases…— Mary Muthoni Muriuki, CBS, HSC (@psmuthoni) September 20, 2024
