The Ministry of Health has flagged seven counties as high-risk areas for Mpox as Kenya continues to battle an outbreak that has spread to 40 counties.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni said the seven counties were particularly vulnerable due to their location along major transport corridors and proximity to border points.

Mombasa leads the list of high-risk counties, followed by Nairobi, with Busia, Makueni, Kiambu, Kilifi and Nakuru also identified as areas requiring heightened vigilance.

Kenya has so far recorded 1,298 confirmed Mpox cases and 19 deaths, with infections reported in 40 of the country's 47 counties.

📌 What You Need to Know

Mombasa has recorded the highest number of cases at 452, followed by Nairobi with 320 and Busia with 115 cases, highlighting the significant burden in some of the identified high-risk areas.

Speaking Monday morning while chairing a departmental management meeting with heads of departments under the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards, Muthoni warned that Mpox remained a threat despite ongoing efforts to contain its spread.

“We urge Kenyans to remain vigilant and observe hygiene and prevention measures. Continued transmission within communities, coupled with movement along major transport corridors, could increase the risk of further infections,” Muthoni said.

The ministry has called for sustained public sensitisation, enhanced surveillance and screening at the country's border points as part of efforts to detect and contain new infections.

“We are also maintaining surveillance for other infectious diseases. Although Kenya has no confirmed case of Ebola, we have put measures in place to respond to any suspected case and prevent the virus from entering the country,” Muthoni said.

The management meeting further reviewed Kenya's preparedness for the anticipated El Niño rains, with the ministry scheduled to hold a stakeholder meeting on Wednesday to assess the potential health impact.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke