Nyeri becomes 23rd county to report confirmed Mpox case as 60-year-old woman tests positive

Nyeri has become the 23rd county in Kenya to report a confirmed case of Mpox after a 60-year-old woman who travelled from Nairobi to Mathira East Sub-County tested positive for the virus.

Addressing the media on Sunday, Medical and Health Services County Executive Dr Joseph Maina Kiragu confirmed that the patient is currently in isolation and undergoing treatment.

He noted that County Health officials, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH), have launched contact tracing from the patient’s home to identify anyone she may have come into close contact with.

The Ministry of Health’s surveillance team has also begun retracing the patient’s movements from Mathira back to Nairobi in a bid to establish further exposure risks and contain the spread of the disease.

This is the first confirmed Mpox case in Nyeri County.

The new case in Mathira comes just days after Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced that Kenya had recorded 314 confirmed cases of Mpox across 22 counties. The highest number of confirmed cases has been recorded in Mombasa (146), Busia (63), Nakuru (21), Kilifi (19), Nairobi (17) and Makueni (13).

Other counties with reported cases include Taita Taveta and Uasin Gishu, five each, Bungoma four, Kajiado, Kakamega and Kiambu three each, Kericho and Machakos two each, while Migori, Kisii, Kirinyaga, Isiolo, Kitui, Narok, Baringo and Trans Nzoia have one case each. Duale said new infections are still emerging, warning that the disease continues to spread.

As of Friday last week, 33 patients had been admitted to various health facilities, while another 54 were under home-based isolation and care. The Health Ministry said 222 patients had recovered fully since the outbreak began, while five others had succumbed to the virus, resulting in a case fatality rate of 1.6 per cent.

In its latest surveillance report, the Ministry indicated that it had traced 422 individuals who came into contact with confirmed Mpox patients. Of these, 392 had completed the mandatory 21-day monitoring period while the rest were still under observation. At least 15 of the traced contacts had also tested positive.

Dale said the Country has intensified screening at all ports of entry, with more than 4.7 million travellers screened since the outbreak began. He noted that suspected cases identified through this process have been referred for further testing, with laboratory analysis conducted at the National Public Health Laboratories and partner facilities. Of 905 samples tested so far, 314 returned positive, translating to a positivity rate of 34.6 per cent.

To curb further spread of the disease, the Ministry urged the public to avoid close contact with suspected or confirmed cases, refrain from sharing personal items such as clothing or bedding, use protective gear when caring for infected individuals, maintain proper hygiene, practise safe sex, report suspected infections and seek prompt medical attention when symptoms arise.

Meanwhile, health authorities in Taita Taveta County have raised the alarm after a case of Mpox was confirmed in Voi last Tuesday, prompting renewed calls for vigilance as infections continue to surge in neighbouring Mombasa County.

County epidemiologist Dr Urbanus Kioko urged residents to observe Ministry of Health guidelines to curb further spread of the disease.

Dr Kioko stressed the importance of seeking medical help at the first sign of symptoms.

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“This virus spreads through close physical contact, sharing clothing, and even airborne droplets during conversations. Anyone experiencing symptoms should visit a nearby health facility promptly,” he said.

The Ministry of Health has advised the public to avoid consuming bush meat and adhere to other preventive measures as Mpox cases rise nationally.

To bolster epidemic response, county communication officials are currently undergoing intensive training on Mpox awareness and health reporting.

The programme, a joint effort by USAID Stawisha Pwani and the County Departments of Health Services and Public Communication, is aimed at improving public messaging and combating misinformation during health emergencies.

Dr Phillip Masaulo, Deputy Chief of Party at USAID Stawisha Pwani, said, “Media professionals play a crucial role in informing the public during outbreaks. Equipping them with accurate knowledge enables communities to make sound decisions that can save lives.”

Dr Kioko echoed the importance of coordinated preparedness at the local level. “While national monitoring has advanced, counties must strengthen surveillance, public education, and rapid response mechanisms to effectively contain the virus,” he added.