Two new Mpox cases were confirmed in Mombasa on November 28, 2024, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Kenya to 23 since the first case was reported on July 31, 2024.
According to the Ministry of Health, Kenya has a Case Fatality Rate of 4.3 per cent following one death. Of the confirmed cases, 16 people have recovered (69.6 per cent), while four remain hospitalised, and two are in self-isolation.
The National Public Health Laboratories (NPHL) has so far received 310 samples, with 23 testing positive, a positivity rate of 7.4 per cent, 286 samples were negative, and one is pending.
Contact tracing has led to 156 individuals being listed, with 117 followed up for 21 days. Five of those tested positive, while 34 are still being monitored.
Travel screenings have intensified, with 16,149 travellers screened in the last 24 hours, totalling 2,039,968 travellers since the start of the outbreak.
The Ministry of Health reports that 33% of confirmed cases have a travel history to countries experiencing Mpox outbreaks, including Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Males account for 52.3% of cases, while females (14.7%) were primarily contacts of confirmed cases 4, 6, and 8.
Case distribution includes:
- 6 in Nakuru
- 4 in Mombasa
- 2 each in Nairobi, Kajiado, and Bungoma
- 1 each in Taita Taveta, Busia, Makueni, Kericho, Kilifi, Kiambu, and Uasin Gishu
Risk communication and community engagement efforts continue to combat stigma and promote prevention measures. The government has activated the National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) and local centres in 25 counties. Additionally, the National Mpox Response Plan has been developed, and surveillance has been heightened nationwide to guide detection and response efforts.
In August of this year, the Ministry of Health engaged the Council of Governors and County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) for Health on Mpox, and several task forces were constituted to review and enhance Kenya’s preparedness and response strategy.
According to the Ministry of Health, disease surveillance has been enhanced in all counties, with a case definition being developed and shared to guide case detection in health facilities and the community.
Multidisciplinary National Response Teams have been deployed to provide technical support to Taita Taveta, Busia, Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Makueni and Kajiado Counties, and additional teams were mobilized for potential deployment to other regions as needed.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported travel-associated cases in Africa, including Kenya, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Clade 1 Mpox has been identified in Central and Eastern African countries including Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda.
Mpox spreads through close contact with infected individuals or contaminated items.
As of November 3, 2024, the World Health Organization has reported 11,148 confirmed cases and 53 deaths in Africa, with the highest number in the Democratic Republic of Congo at 8,662, followed by 1,726 in Burundi and 359 in Uganda.
