Health CS Barasa confirms no new Mpox case, heightens surveillance

The Ministry of Health has heightened surveillance across the country to detect any suspected cases of Mpox, a day after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the disease a public health emergency.

Health Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah Barasa, in a statement to newsrooms on Friday, said the ministry has activated the public health emergency operation centres and established incident management teams across the country.

She said the ministry will continue to issue advisories on the status of the disease and sensitise health workers on how to identify and prevent such cases if they arise. 

CS Barasa assured the public that Kenya has only recorded one case of the disease involving a truck driver who has since recovered. The driver had travelled from Uganda to Mombasa, then to Rwanda, Tanzania through Taita Taveta one stop border point.

The Health CS noted that the ministry has since screened 12 persons who came into contact with the driver and another six different suspected cases, all of whom tested negative for the disease. 

"No new confirmed cases of Mpox have been reported in the country since the first confirmed case," the statement read in part. 

Mpox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus that is spread through close contact including fever, swelling of the lymph nodes, sore throat, muscle aches, skin rash and back pain.

Some of the prevention measures include frequently washing hands with soap and water or using alcohol based sanitiser and avoid contact with individuals showing Mpox-like symptoms. 

Also, the ministry asked Kenyans to report to the nearest office should they experience the symptoms. 

"The ministry remains committed to the health and safety of all Kenyans and appreciates the cooperation of the public, the media and all stakeholders in managing and preventing the spread of the disease," CS Barasa said.