Kenya records its first mpox death

Kenya has confirmed its first death from Mpox, as confirmed by Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni.

On Monday, Director General Patrick Amoth, while addressing the media, explained that the patient who passed away had pre-existing health complications.

"The Ministry of Health (MoH) has confirmed the country's first Mpox-related death since the disease was first detected in July. Since then, the country has reported a total of thirteen positive cases.

"Eight of the patients have recovered and been discharged, while four remain hospitalised," Amoth stated.

He made these remarks in Nairobi during the announcement that the Ministry had received a donation of 15.2 million tablets for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) from the World Health Organisation, valued at Sh213 million ($1.6 million).

The Ministry of Health further identified a total of 13 cases of Mpox across the country.

The cases were detected from 236 samples that were tested in laboratories, and the cases were confirmed in 10 counties.

According to the Ministry of Health, the cases have been reported in 10 counties, including Nakuru (2), Kajiado (2), Bungoma (2), Taita Taveta (1), Busia (1) Nairobi (1), Mombasa (1), Makueni (1) Kericho (1) and Kilifi (1)

Kenya's Ministry of Health, with support from the WHO and partners, has developed a national preparedness and response plan for Mpox.

This plan has identified 14 high-risk counties along the Northern Corridor, a key transport route from the Kenya-Uganda border to the port city of Mombasa, where rapid response teams have been deployed to enhance surveillance efforts.

So far, more than 930,000 travellers have been screened for Mpox at 26 of Kenya's 35 points of entry. Additionally, 137 health workers and 555 staff at two major airports in Nairobi have received training on recognising symptoms and implementing infection prevention and control measures.