A Kenyan truck Driver aged 37, has been diagnosed with the deadly Monkey pox disease which he could have attracted while traveling from Rwanda and to Uganda.
The Ministry of Health on Thursday confirmed the case which was detected by a surveillance team in Nakuru.
“We urge all the citizens to observe the following prevention methods, one to avoid close physical contact with invented individuals or persons showing symptoms of Monkeypox (Mpox) and to wash your hands regularly with soap and water or use alcohol -based sanitizer,” MoH stated.
The ministry indicated its teams had screened approximately 15,541 travelers within 24 hours bringing the total number of individuals screened to 1,128,976 across 26 different points of entry.
The National Public Health Laboratory has received and tested 227 samples with the 9 confirmed positive cases.
MoH said its teams had reported no death from Mpox.
The Department of Public Health and Professional Standards says Mpox (formerly monkeypox) is a disease caused by the monkeypox virus.
“Patients present with rash or mucosal lesions, fever, headache, generalised aches and swollen lymph nodes.”
Person-to-person transmission of Mpox can occur through direct contact with infected skin or other lesions, such as on the mouth or the genitals.
The Kenyan government says high level of population movement between Kenya and other East African countries, especially along the northern and central transport corridors, poses a significant risk of regional transmission as several countries in the region are currently reporting cases.