By Heizel Gathoni
The Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Ms. Mary Muthoni, has confirmed Kenya’s fourth case of Mpox, highlighting the ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Health to monitor and control the spread of the virus.
The case identified within the last 24 hours, is of a truck driver who was heading to Rwanda from Mombasa bringing the total number of confirmed Mpox cases in the country to four.
“The most recently confirmed case of MPOX is a truck driver who was traveling from Mombasa en route to Rwanda. He felt unwell on 28th August 2024 while passing through Gilgil (Kikopey area) and was unable to continue his journey,” PS Muthoni said on X.
According to PS Muthoni a rapid rescue team was dispatched to assess the case adding that the patient was evacuated to an isolation centre and in a stable condition.
“The Gilgil Sub-County Rapid Response Team (RRT) was immediately dispatched to assess the case. The patient was evacuated to Nakuru PGH Isolation Centre where he is admitted in stable condition,” stated PS Muthoni.
The confirmed cases are so far distributed across four counties: Taita Taveta, Busia, Nairobi, and Nakuru, with each county reporting one case.
Read more:http://Kenya Confirms Third Mpox Case, Active Surveillance Intensifies
According to the Ministry of Health, the National Public Health Laboratory has so far processed 90 samples, out of which four have tested positive for Mpox with pending confirmation.
Furthermore the Ministry is closely monitoring 30 individuals who have been identified as contacts of the confirmed cases. These individuals are under follow-up in Busia, Mombasa, Nairobi, and Nakuru counties.
Meanwhile, at Kenya’s Points of Entry (PoEs), 16,533 travelers were screened in the last 24 hours, adding to a cumulative total of 599,380 people screened as of August 31, 2024 with no deaths related to Mpox have been reported in the country.
The Ministry of Health is urging the public to remain vigilant and adhere to safety guidelines to curb the spread of Mpox.