Kenya’s Ministry of Health has confirmed two additional cases of mpox, bringing the total to 33 cases since the outbreak began. The latest infections were reported in Kericho and Taita Taveta counties, according to Mary Muriuki, Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Health.
The outbreak has now spread to 12 counties, with 225 contacts identified so far. Of these, 216 underwent the recommended 21-day monitoring period, and 9 tested positive for mpox.
The government has intensified efforts to curb the outbreak through active case searches, contact tracing, and public education campaigns on prevention and control. Authorities are also focusing on symptomatic investigations of confirmed cases to improve surveillance.
Mpox, caused by a virus in the same family as smallpox, leads to symptoms like high fever and vesicular skin lesions. Declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization in August 2022, the disease has caused global concern.
In Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo remains the worst affected, accounting for over 49,000 suspected cases and 1,100 deaths since January 2024, as reported by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
