Suspected mpox case in Kiambu under investigation- health official

The Kiambu County Government has confirmed there is a suspected mpox case in the county following speculations on social media.

In a statement released on Saturday, Dr. Elias Maina, the County Executive Committee Member for Health, said the patient is being monitored.

“It is under detailed examination. We are awaiting the official lab results and will provide a comprehensive update as soon as we have more information,” said Dr Maina.

However, Dr Maina reassured the public that there is no need for alarm at this stage. “The County Government, through the Department of Health Services, has implemented all necessary measures to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents,” he added.

A photo of a patient with lesions emerged on social media sparking speculations of the mpox cases in the country. This is after the ministry ruled out there are no active cases in the country as of Friday.

The initial case was identified on July 29. Health CS Debora Mulongo on Friday confirmed the full recovery of the sole reported case, involving an individual who travelled from Kampala, Uganda, to Mombasa, and then proceeded to Rwanda via Tanzania's Taita Taveta border point.

“We have screened twelve individuals who came into contact with the initial case, as well as an additional six suspected cases, all of whom tested negative for Mpox. There have been no new confirmed cases since the first one,” said Mulongo.

Mpox symptoms

Mpox is a viral illness characterised by fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and a rash that typically starts on the face and then spreads to other parts of the body, eventually forming pustules and scabs.

To reduce the risk of Mpox, the public is advised to avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with anyone showing signs of a rash or sores, wash hands regularly with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser, avoid contact with animals that may carry the virus, including sick or dead animals, and use personal protective equipment, such as gloves and masks, when caring for a sick person.

To curb the spread of Mpox, the Ministry of Health has screened more than 250,000 Kenyans and travellers at all ports of entry since confirming the case two weeks ago. This comprehensive screening initiative is part of a broader strategy to prevent further transmission of the virus within the country.

Kenya's response includes enhanced nationwide surveillance, activation of Public Health Emergency Operation Centres and Incident Management Teams, ongoing advisories to healthcare workers on detection and management, and public sensitization efforts to raise awareness about Mpox risks and preventive actions.