Ministry of Health strengthens Mpox preparedness

By Peter Ochieng

The Ministry of Health continues to intensify preparedness and response to Mpox, with the Director General of Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth, emphasising the urgency of decisive action and robust partnerships.

Speaking during a stakeholder meeting on Monday, Dr. Amoth said the focus was on enhancing Kenya’s national response strategy to Mpox.

He outlined key measures, including rapid laboratory testing, community engagement, infection prevention control, and comprehensive case management, as some of the initiates geared towards preventing spread of the disease. Drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Amoth highlighted the critical importance of early intervention to prevent a wider outbreak.

“Taking action now is essential to protect our population and prevent a potential outbreak,” he said.

Although only one confirmed case has been reported in the country, the rise in cases across other parts of Africa has prompted calls for increased vigilance. The Director General urged all partners to collaborate in strengthening Kenya’s preparedness.

“Proactive measures are essential for safeguarding public health and ensuring economic stability,” he added.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Mpox or monkeypox is an illness caused by the monkeypox virus that can spread between people and occasionally from the environment to people via things and surfaces that have been touched by a person with mpox.

Common symptoms of mpox include a rash which may last for 2–4 weeks. This may start with, or be followed by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen glands (lymph nodes).

Avoiding close contact with anyone who has mpox, especially sexual contact and cleaning your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub, are some ways of protecting yourself against mpox.

Many years of research on therapeutics for smallpox have led to development of products that may also be useful for treating mpox. An antiviral that was developed to treat smallpox (tecovirimat) was approved in January 2022 by the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of mpox under exceptional circumstances.

Additionally, there are three vaccines against mpox. MVA-BN, LC16 and OrthopoxVac have been approved for prevention of mpox.

Only people who are at risk (for example someone who has been a close contact of someone who has mpox or someone who belongs to a group at high risk for exposure to mpox) should be considered for vaccination.

Mass vaccination is not currently recommended.