NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 7 — Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni has urged heightened vigilance in seven high-risk counties along Kenya’s transport corridors as the government steps up its response to Mpox.
Muthoni said the country has so far recorded 1,298 confirmed mpox cases and nineteen deaths, with the disease reported in forty of forty-seven counties.
Speaking as she assessed the Mpox response with departmental heads on Monday, Muthoni said Mombasa had recorded the highest number of cases, followed by Nairobi, Busia, Makueni, Kiambu, Kilifi and Nakuru.
“Culminatively on Mpox we have 1,298 confirmed cases and we also have 19 deaths so far. We have 40 out of 47 counties that are affected,” Muthoni said.
She called on members of the public to maintain high standards of hygiene as the ministry works to contain further transmission.
Muthoni also urged hotels to step up cleaning of bedding and surfaces as part of measures to reduce the risk of infection.
“We want to request the members of public to practice the highest levels of hygiene at all times. Asking hoteliers to also ensure that the beddings in their hotels and the surfaces are cleaned up,” she said.
The PS further called on truck drivers arriving from countries with high levels of mpox infections to seek medical attention if they develop symptoms.
“Should you come from a country where there are high infections, please make sure that you visit a health facility should you feel unwell,” she said.
Muthoni said the government would continue strengthening surveillance at border points and screening at points of entry as part of efforts to detect and contain imported infections.
“We will continue enhancing our surveillance at the border points and also ensure that there is screening that is happening at our points of entry,” she said.
