In a bid to contain the spread of Mpox, the Government through the Ministry of Health has tightened its surveillance of the virus by deploying a raft of new measures.
According to the Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Health, Department of Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni, all entry points to the country have been properly manned, including airports.
All the points have been kitted to check on any symptoms that visitors or Kenyan residents may present as they enter the country.
Consequently, PS Muthoni affirmed that the Ministry of Health has come up with a data collection procedure for all travellers making stops or entering the country.
Travellers will be required to fill in a health information slip that would activate tracing in the event of suspected cases of the spreading Mpox virus.
Speaking when she toured the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to assess the preparedness of the port health services, PS Muthoni said there were adequate protocols put in place.
One of the interventions is thermos screening akin to what was used during the Covid-19 pandemic to check the temperatures of people coming into the country.
She further observed that as much as surveillance has been heightened at the borders where most track drivers pass through, there was a need to also secure the airports as a key deterrent measure.
Kenya has so far recorded 4 confirmed cases with samples of a patient in Garbatulla in Isiolo county still under scrutiny.
The latest case of Mpox was reported was a truck driver from Mombasa who was enroute to Rwanda. The other three cases were confirmed in Busia, Nairobi and Taita Taveta.
The National Public Health Laboratory has received 90 samples for test. Four turned out positive and two are pending confirmation. Statistics shared by the Ministry of Health indicate that 599,380 people were screened by August 31.
So far two people have succumbed to the virus and ten are reported to exhibit Mpox symptoms.
The Ministry has warned the public against spreading images of those suspected of having the virus citing stigma.
