Kenyan truck driver recovers from Mpox, no new cases recorded

Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni, in a statement to newsrooms on Tuesday, said the truck driver was identified with a “generalized rash” at the Taveta One Stop Border Point on July 22, 2024.

PS Muthoni said he was then isolated at the Taveta sub-county hospital where skin lesion samples were taken to the National Public Health Laboratories for testing, and came back positive for Mpox on July 29, 2024.

“The patient has recovered. However, due to the infectiousness of Mpox and as per international guidelines for mpox response, the Ministry of Health and the County Health Department of Taita Taveta began identifying all persons that had been in close contact with the patient,” noted the PS.

“We are tracing all his close contacts at his workplace, at the hospital where he was admitted and along his travel routes. So far, no other case has been confirmed in the country. The patient has travelled through Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda. So, we are working with our neighbouring countries to identify any contacts and any other potential cases.”

PS Muthoni also noted that the ministry has since deployed a rapid response to affected counties and activated Public Health Emergency Operation Centres across the nation.

“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,” added PS Muthoni.