NAIROBI, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Ministry of Health on Monday called on citizens to strictly adhere to mpox preventive measures, especially during the festive season, as the number of confirmed cases increased to 31.
Mary Muthoni, principal secretary for the Ministry of Health, said in a statement issued in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi that two recent cases were identified in the coastal city of Mombasa and the country's western county of Nakuru, and so far, 12 counties nationwide have recorded mpox cases.
Muthoni noted that more than 2.6 million travelers have been screened at various points of entry, with suspected cases undergoing further investigation.
She said a total of 351 samples have been tested at the National Public Health Laboratory and other partner laboratories. "We remain committed to controlling the mpox outbreak and safeguarding the health and safety of all Kenyans, especially during this festive season."
The health ministry, in cooperation with its partners, has deployed a multidisciplinary rapid response team to assist with case searches, contact tracing, and the management of confirmed cases in response to the outbreak, according to the principal secretary.
The surge in cases comes as Kenya prepares to receive vaccines in December. Kenya is one of five African countries slated to receive 50,000 doses of the mpox vaccine as part of the World Health Organization-led global efforts to prevent the disease's spread, which is rising across Africa.
Besides Kenya, other African countries reporting mpox cases include the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Cameroon, Liberia, the Central African Republic, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Uganda, South Africa, Guinea, Gabon, and Rwanda. ■