County government s have been asked to heighten vigilance to that suspected cases of Mpox disease are handled well to avoid is spread. This is after Kiambu and Kisii counties reported suspected cases of the disease which is caused by Monkey pox virus which is spread through contact with an infected person.
The Kiambu case was of a Thika businesswoman who frequently contacts customers mostly drivers from Uganda, Tanzania, Bungoma, Sondu, Muriu and Nandi hills and is undergoing tests.
The Council of Governors Health Committee chairman Muthomi Njuki said the disease is deadly and the country must remain on guard, and urged members of the public to report to their nearest health facility or even authorities any suspected case of mpox.
Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni had indicated that five new suspected cases had been detected in the country bringing to 29 the total number of suspected cases of which 23 had tested negative of Mpox while 6 were pending confirmation from reference laboratory. PS Muthoni has cautioned against alarm over the disease.
On Friday, Health Cabinet Secretary Debora Barasa assured he country that there was no active Mpox case in Kenya as all contacts of the first positive case had been traced, tested and had turned negative.
Revital Healthcare (EPZ) Limited, a Kenyan medical equipment manufacturer, is developing Africa’s first Mpox rapid antigen test Kit.Revital Healthcare, based in Kilifi county, launched Africa’s largest rapid diagnostic test kit facility on May 8, with support from USAID.According to Sales and Marketing director Roneek Vohra, the company produces over 20 million rapid test kits monthly, and is working on Mpox rapid test kit to support Kenya and the world. Mpox was recently declared a public health emergency by WHO.
Kenya declared Mpox outbreak on July 31 after a case was confirmed in Taveta, Taita Taveta county in a 42 year old man who has since recovered and been discharged from the hospital, according to the Ministry of Health. None of the 12 contacts in the confirmed case showed any symptoms during the 21-day surveillance period. the MoH said 21,350 travellers had been screened Friday, bringing the total number of screenings to 302,436 since the start of the surveillance.