One mpox case confirmed in Nakuru as health ministry traces 30 contacts

Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni. [File, Standard]

Another case of mpox has been confirmed at the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital (PGH) in Nakuru.

Dr James Waweru, the Medical Superintendent at PGH confirmed the case, which is the fourth in the country.

Dr Waweru said the patient has been placed in isolation and is in a stable condition. He said the patient is a truck driver who was travelling from Mombasa to Rwanda through Nakuru.

Dr Waweru’s report coincides with a report from the Ministry of Health which indicates one more case confirmed in the last 24 hours.

Other confirmed cases are one in Taita, one in Busia and another in Nairobi.

Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni communicated that the latest patient felt unwell at Gilgil in Nakuru County on August 28.

“The patient was unable to continue his journey and Gilgil sub-county rapid response team was dispatched to assess the case,” she said, adding that the patient was later evacuated to Nakuru where he is admitted in stable condition.

According to the Ministry, the National Public Health Lab has processed 90 samples, out of which four are positive and two are pending confirmation. 

The Ministry, according to Muthoni, is following up with 30 contacts in Busia, Mombasa, Nairobi, and Nakuru. 

“At least 16,533 travellers have been screened in the last 24 hours at Points of Entry and 599,380 have been screened at 26 PoEs, as of August 31,” she said.

So far according to the Ministry, no deaths have been reported. Kenya is yet to receive the disease vaccines, although the Ministry of Health says the country is well-prepared to handle the threat.

“We have heightened our surveillance, enhanced coordination through the public health emergency coordination centre, and established rapid response teams,” said Dr Patrick Amoth, Director General for Health early this week. 

He said testing capacity has been improved, with designated labs and over 100 diagnostic centres. At least 10,000 doses of vaccine arrived in Nigeria on Tuesday, making the country the first in Africa to get the jabs.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the worst hit nation and the suspected source of cases reported in Kenya, more than 548 deaths have been recorded.