Kenya Confirms Two New Mpox Cases, Total Rises to Seven Amid Heightened Surveillance

Kenya’s Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday the confirmation of two additional Mpox cases, bringing the country’s total to seven as efforts to enhance surveillance and prevent wider transmission continue.

Deborah Barasa, the cabinet secretary for Health, stated that the latest cases were identified in Makueni County, located in southeastern Kenya, and Kajiado County, which shares a border with Tanzania.

“No fatalities have occurred among the confirmed cases so far. Out of 61 contacts traced and monitored from the initial five cases, only one individual has tested positive,” Barasa said.

She further noted that since the outbreak began, more than one million travelers have been screened at 25 key entry points into Kenya.

According to Barasa, Kenya has conducted tests on 190 samples from 28 counties, with seven samples testing positive for Mpox.

On August 14, the World Health Organization declared Mpox a public health emergency and urged a globally coordinated response to contain its spread.