The Kenya-Ethiopia border in Moyale in Marsabit County. The county has enhanced measures to curb the spread of MPOX within the county. Photo: Eastleigh Voices.
The health department in Marsabit County has announced of heightened safety measures at the Kenya-Ethiopia border in Moyale to prevent the spread and surge of Mpox cases in the county.
According to Qabale Duba, health officer monitoring the infection in the county, strict measures and strategies have been put in place to avoid spread of MPox from Ethiopia, stating that the county is prepared incase of spread of the disease.
“The surveillance system has been enhanced incase of any reported case. The country has reported several cases, but in Marasbit County we are yet to report any MPox infection, but we are ready, we are doing surveillance and everything required. In Moyale, they have an isolation ward because they are on the border,” Duba confirmed.
Following the reports from the Ministry of Health, 137 new cases were reported in 17 counties, as the outbreak of the disease continue to surge in the country.
Principal Secretary, State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards in the Ministry of Health Mary Muthoni, announced that out of 597 samples tested, Busia county recorded 48 cases, Mombasa 37, Makueni 10, Nairobi 5, Kajiado 3, Bungoma 3,Taita Taveta 2, Kericho 2, Kilifi 2, Machakos 2, Kiambu, Uasin Gishu, Migori, Isiolo, Kisii and Kirinyaga reporting 1 case each.
However, the Ministry further announced that it has an outlined program of issuing MPox vaccine to the most vulnerable groups in the country, where there is high risk of the infection spreading like schools, in order to protect the students.
Mpox is a viral disease, which spreads by close contact with an infected person, including sharing their personal items,, shaking hands, and often causes flu-like symptoms along with a pus-filled rash. Although it is usually a mild illness, it can be serious and fatal.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has already declared Mpox a global health emergency, a move that has spurred international efforts to combat the disease.
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