Kenya is stepping up its reaction to the deadly virus in light of the five confirmed positive cases of mpox.
Speaking during an assessment tour of the Namanga One-Stop Border Point in Kajiado County and the Llasit border post in Loitoktok, Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni confirmed that screening and response mechanisms have been increased to prevent further spread, particularly through the points of entry into the nation.
In an effort to curb the Mpox outbreak in Kenya and lower the risk of importation from neighboring countries such as Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda that are also experiencing outbreaks, the Ministry of Health has created a National Mpox Preparedness and Response Plan.
The taxpayer may have to pay up to Ksh.6.7 billion for the scheme, which will implement a three-tier response level system.
Up to Ksh. 1.7 billion will be allocated for local containment of the spread; this will be used, among other things, for community-based surveillance, health worker capacity building, supply of various PPEs, sanitation supplies, improved screening, and the construction of temporary isolation spaces.
About Ksh. 2.3 billion has been put up to prevent the regional spread of Mpox cases in less than five counties, with Ksh. 941 million—the majority of the entire budget—to be used for health worker training.
Ksh. 2.6 billion will be spent on stopping the national spread, which affects five or more counties. Of that amount, Ksh. 191 million will go toward sensitizing healthcare personnel, Ksh. 90 million toward contact tracing and active case search, Ksh. 500 million toward infection prevention and control interventions, and Ksh. 159 million toward laboratory support.
High-risk areas include Busia, Bungoma, Eldoret, Kisumu, Kericho, Nakuru, Kiambu, Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado, Makueni, Taita Taveta, Kwale Kilifi, and Mombasa because they are thought to be routes from Uganda to Mombasa, according to the plan signed by PS Muthoni and Acting Director General for Health Dr. Sultani Matendechero.
Another major concern is cross-border mobility along border counties.
In order to improve readiness at all border crossings, the Ministry of Health is collaborating closely with county administrations and other organizations.
