Mpox Virus Outbreak Escalates in Western Kenya as Kakamega Confirms Cases

What began as isolated cases is now unfolding into a regional health concern. The Mpox virus, formerly known as monkeypox, is slowly tightening its grip on Western Kenya, with fresh infections sending counties into emergency mode. 

Kakamega and Busia have become focal points in the unfolding outbreak, raising alarms among health officials and communities alike.

In Kakamega County, three residents from Chekalini Ward in Lugari Sub-County have tested positive for the viral disease. The infected persons include a 52-year-old long-distance truck driver, his wife, and another woman who had recently travelled from Nairobi.

Speaking at the county headquarters, Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa confirmed the cases and emphasized the need for immediate containment. The patients and their families, he said, have been placed under strict home-based isolation.

“They will be in isolation for the next 21 days. The county government of Kakamega will be taking care of their wellbeing because they are not supposed to move anywhere, and that is why we decided we keep them indoors under the home-based care,” said the governor.

In response, the county has deployed rapid response teams to identify any other active cases and conduct thorough contact tracing. 

“This is a contagious disease, so our teams are on the ground with some of our officers, whom we have given personal protective equipment, because again, we have to take care,” he added.

Governor Barasa said the county has formed a multi-agency team that is in constant communication with sub-county health officers to monitor and act on any emerging cases. The team reports directly to the Kakamega County Health Emergency Operation Centre and the Incident Management Command Centre.

“I want to assure the public that we have up-scaled our surveillance and contact tracing across the county. We have also expanded isolation capacity at the Kakamega County General Hospital, the Lumakanda Sub-County Hospital in Lugari, and the Chekalini Isolation Centre,” Barasa added.

The governor also called on Community Health Promoters and religious leaders to support public awareness efforts. He urged residents to report symptoms such as fever, sore throat, and rashes early and avoid contact with suspected cases.

Meanwhile, in neighbouring Busia County, the situation appears more advanced. With 56 confirmed cases, Busia has emerged as the second hardest-hit region in Kenya, only trailing the country’s leading hotspot. 

The county has also recorded two deaths and two hospitalizations. Eight patients are currently under home-based care.

Addressing stakeholders during a sensitization forum earlier this week, Evans Shiraku, the County Disease Surveillance Coordinator in Busia, emphasized the urgent need for action amid the rising Mpox cases.

“Current national data reveals that Kenya has reported 226 confirmed Mpox cases spread across 13 counties. Busia County accounts for 56 of these, with two hospitalizations, two deaths, and eight patients under home-based care,” Shiraku stated.

He expressed concern over the county’s close proximity to the Uganda border, which presents unique challenges in controlling the outbreak. “Of the confirmed cases, 53 are Kenyan nationals, while three are Ugandans,” he noted. “The international aspect of the outbreak complicates efforts to contain it.”

In a detailed breakdown of the Mpox situation in Busia County, Evans Shiraku revealed that Matayos Sub-county has recorded the highest number of infections, with 26 confirmed cases. It is followed by Teso North with 19, Teso South with 10, and Nambale, which has reported one case so far.

Shiraku further highlighted demographic trends, noting that young adults remain the most affected group. “The most affected age group is between 20 and 29 years, with 20 confirmed cases,” he said. 

“We’ve also recorded 16 cases among those aged 30 to 39, nine cases in the 40 to 49 age group, five infections among children aged 1 to 9, four cases in teenagers aged 10 to 19, and one case in the 50 to 59 age bracket.”

When it comes to gender, Shiraku noted that slightly more women have been infected than men, a trend that aligns with global patterns. 

“We have 29 cases among women and 26 among men. This pattern is in line with Mpox outbreaks globally and indicates the need for gender-sensitive prevention strategies,” he said.

Occupational exposure has also played a significant role in the spread of the virus. According to Shiraku, businesspeople top the list with 17 infections. Students follow with eight cases, truck drivers with five, and sex workers with four. 

Salon workers have recorded three cases, while other infected individuals include teachers, boda boda riders, and farmers. An additional 15 cases fall under other unspecified occupations.

“This data helps us understand how transmission occurs in different community settings and occupations,” Shiraku explained. “It enables us to plan targeted responses.”

To curb the spread, the Busia County Health Management Team has stepped up both disease surveillance and public education. Shiraku emphasized the importance of forums like the recent stakeholder engagement in bolstering response efforts.

“The health communication forum was a chance to reinforce early detection, information-sharing, and stakeholder collaboration,” he said.