Kenya's sixth Mpox case confirmed in Makueni

Kenya has confirmed its sixth official case of Mpox in Makindu, Makueni County.

The affected individual, a 38-year-old driver who had travelled from Uganda to Kenya, tested positive for the communicable disease at Makindu Sub-County Hospital.

He is currently improving under home-based isolation.

"In response, the county public health emergency operation center, both county and sub-county Incident management teams and rapid response teams have been activated. The teams will coordinate case management and contact tracing," Makueni County Health CEC Dr. Paul Musila said in a statement.

"The county government has mobilised essential supplies and commodities to support in the response. Additionally, a national health team has joined the county team to review the case and provide further support."

The development comes more than two weeks after Kenya confirmed its fifth official case of Mpox.

The incident involved a 29-year-old woman who resides near Tumaini Academy in Mombasa. 

Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa explained then that the female got the virus from her spouse, who was the fourth confirmed case in the country.

She was later admitted at Coast General Hospital on August 28, 2024, and after the tests turned positive, isolated at Utange Hospital's Mpox Isolation Centre. 

Mpox or monkeypox is a viral disease that is spread through direct contact with an infected person.

It consists of symptoms such as body rash, high fever, enlarged lymph nodes, headache, fatigue, muscle and body aches and back pain.