Kenya Confirms 5 New Suspected Mpox Cases
The Ministry also confirmed being in receipt of samples from a case suspected to have emerged in Kiambu County and earlier reported as true by its county government.
Marvin Chege 
The threat posed by the Mpox (monkeypox) virus seems to be gathering momentum in Kenya, whose Ministry of Health on Saturday, August 17 confirmed that five new suspected cases have been detected.
In a statement to newsrooms, Mary Muthoni, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Public Health & Professional Standards, confirmed that a total of 29 suspected cases of Mpox have been identified, the five coming in the past 24 hours.
Of these, however, 23 tested negative for Mpox, while six cases are pending confirmation from the reference laboratory.
The Ministry also confirmed receiving samples from a case suspected to have emerged in Kiambu County and earlier reported as true by its county government.
Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni speaking at a medical camp held in Kianyaga on February 4, 2024. /MARY MUTHONI
"Notably, today we received samples from a suspected Mpox case at Vineyard Hospital in Kiambu County. Currently, the patient is under isolation and management within the County. We will provide timely updates as we receive more information," read the statement in part.
Furthermore, the Ministry noted that active surveillance was ongoing across the country including points of entry where during the 24 hours, 21,350 travellers were screened at Points of Entry, with zero (0) suspected Mpox cases detected. The cumulative number of travellers screened to date was revealed to be 302,436.
The Ministry also informed the general public that during this time of heightened implementation of Mpox, public health measures such as contact tracing, screening, and heightened surveillance measures among other measures were implemented.
"Surveillance heightened at all points of entry which might lead to delays, we urge the travellers to cooperate and bear with the current arrangements as these measures are meant to protect and safeguard you and others from this disease," added the statement.
The country has been heightening its public health defences against the potentially deadly Mpox virus, leveraging the very protocols that proved crucial in battling the COVID-19 pandemic just a few years ago.
PS Muthoni went on to caution the public against sharing photos of suspected mpox cases on social media "to avoid the spread of misinformation and to respect patient privacy."
Even though no new suspected mpox case has been confirmed yet among citizens, including travellers, the country remains on high alert after declaring the outbreak of the virus on July 31, 2024, confirming its first case in Taveta Sub-County, Taita Taveta County.
12 contacts of the confirmed case were traced and monitored for 21 days, and none have developed symptoms of Mpox.
With over 500 lives lost to Mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) now classifying the virus as a global public health emergency, Kenya has adopted a vigilant stance, particularly in light of its porous borders with neighbouring East African countries.
The reporting of the suspected case in Kiambu County is an indication of the seriousness of the matter with the government leaving nothing to chance, stepping up surveillance at Kenya’s borders which have become critical control points.
The common COVID-19 control measures which included active equipment like thermoguns, thermoscanners, personal protective equipment, handwashing facilities, and hand sanitisers are now in full force in an effort to mitigate the spread of the disease, with the government also sensitising the masses on what they need to do to prevent Mpox.
The strategy is a deliberate echo of the tactics that helped Kenya navigate the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Digital thermometers, now an essential tool in the fight against viral outbreaks, have once again taken centre stage.
These devices, equipped with infrared sensors, can swiftly measure body temperature without physical contact, making them ideal for screening large groups of people at border points. During the COVID-19 crisis, they were vital in identifying potential cases and curbing the virus's spread.
Mpox, caused by a virus in the same family as smallpox, is generally less severe but still poses a significant threat. Originally transmitted from animals to humans, it now spreads primarily through close human contact.
The virus is transmitted through close contact, including sexual contact, skin-to-skin interaction, and even through respiratory droplets. It can also spread via contaminated objects such as bedding, clothing, or towels. This makes public education and hygiene critical components of Kenya's response.
