The Health Ministry has announced five new cases of the Mpox virus this week, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 23.
Among the new infections, two cases were reported in children under the age of five, underscoring the heightened risk to this vulnerable group.
The cases were identified in Nakuru (2), Mombasa (2), and Kiambu (1). Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni emphasized the importance of self-isolation for both suspected and confirmed cases to prevent transmission within households, particularly to young children, who have underdeveloped immune systems.
“Children are among the high-risk groups, and we must take every precaution to protect them from severe illness,” Muthoni stated.
As it stands, the distribution of the 23 confirmed Mpox cases is as follows: Nakuru (6), Mombasa (4), while Nairobi, Kajiado, and Bungoma have recorded two cases each. The remaining counties, including Kiambu, Busia, Makueni, and others, have one case each.
Currently, four individuals are under medical management, with 16 having fully recovered. The ministry has identified 156 contacts, with 117 completing their 21-day follow-up. In a proactive measure, over 2 million travelers have been screened at various points of entry, with 12,257 screened in the past day.
The ministry continues to urge the public to remain vigilant and adhere to health guidelines as they combat this emerging health threat.
