Nairobi confirmed its first case of mpox on Wednesday after detecting the virus in a traveller from Uganda to Rwanda at a southern Kenyan border crossing.
This follows a declaration of a new outbreak in the Central African Republic on Monday, with cases extending to the capital, Bangui.
Mpox, a viral disease originating in wild animals, has seen a recent surge in Africa.
The Kenyan Ministry of Health announced heightened surveillance measures nationwide after confirming the initial case. While no new cases have been reported domestically, authorities are closely monitoring the situation.
The index case involved a long-distance truck driver who traversed from Kampala, Uganda, to Mombasa, Kenya, then to Rwanda via Taita Taveta, before returning to Kenya.
The Ministry of Health is closely watching neighbouring countries for potential transmission risks and has established emergency hotlines for public reporting and inquiries. Rapid response teams have been deployed to affected counties, and public health emergency operation centres activated nationwide.
“Counties are advised to sensitize the public on the outbreak, necessary preventive measures, and steps to take if they contract the disease,” Mary Muthoni, principal secretary in the Ministry of Health, said in a statement.
Preventive measures include frequent handwashing, seeking early medical attention, and avoiding close contact with infected individuals.
Mpox Symptoms
Symptoms primarily include rash and fever, with the potential for fatal outcomes in a small percentage of cases. While handwashing is crucial for prevention, there is currently no available treatment or vaccine in Africa.
WHO Considers New Mpox Emergency Declaration
Mpox, endemic to East, Central, and West African forests, has caused a global outbreak since May 2022, with peaks in August 2022 and November 2023.
“From January to July 2024, 15,074 Mpox cases (2,853 confirmed; 12,221 suspected) and 461 deaths (a case fatality rate of 3.06%) have been reported across Twelve (12) AU Member States. This represents a 160% increase in cases and a 19% increase in deaths in 2024 compared to the same period in 2023,” says the AU.
The African Union has allocated $10.4 million to combat the mpox outbreak, focusing on surveillance, laboratory capacity, data management, case management, and vaccine access.
The World Health Organization is considering declaring a public health emergency of international concern.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization says: “I am considering convening an International Health Regulations Emergency Committee to advise me on whether the outbreak of mpox should be declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).”
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