Mpox Cases Confirmed in Kakamega, Authorities Urge Calm and Vigilance

By Kennedy Nalyanya

Kakamega, Kenya – Three residents of Kakamega County have tested positive for Mpox, the viral disease formerly known as monkeypox. The confirmed cases are all from Chekalini ward in Lugari sub-county, as announced by Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa.

Speaking to the media at the county headquarters, Governor Barasa confirmed that the three individuals and their families have been placed in isolation to prevent further spread of the disease. "They will be in isolation for the next 21 days," Governor Barasa stated. "The county government of Kakamega will be taking care of their well-being because they are not supposed to move anywhere, and that is why we decided we keep them indoors under home-based care."

The Governor urged residents to remain calm but vigilant, emphasizing the importance of reporting symptoms such as fever, sore throat, and rashes immediately. He also stressed adherence to public health guidelines.

In response to the confirmed cases, the county government has deployed rapid response units 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," the Governor explained.

A multi-agency team has also been established to maintain contact with sub-county teams, ensuring prompt identification and action on any new cases. This team sends regular updates to the Kakamega County Health Emergency Operation Centre and the Incident Management Command Centre, both located at the county headquarters.

Governor Barasa reassured the public, stating, "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."

He called upon Community Health Promoters (CHPs) and religious leaders to assist in sensitizing the public on Mpox management and control, and cautioned residents against contact with infected persons.