County reveals efforts made to curb spread of Mpox in Nakuru
An aeriel view of Nakuru city.
Nakuru County ranks third in areas with Mpox cases in Kenya with 15 confirmed cases to date, following Busia and Mombasa, which have reported 39 and 26 cases, respectively.
County health officials are still awaiting further guidance from the Ministry of Health (MOH) regarding vaccination efforts, which had been previously hinted at.
In an interview with Elizabeth Kiptoo, the County Director for Public Health, she says, “There is currently no MPox vaccine available in Nakuru. While the county is among the three designated regions to receive the vaccine, we are still awaiting specific dates for distribution.”
According to the department, a total of 70 samples have been collected for testing since August 2024, when the first case was reported. Of these, 55 returned negative results, and 15 were confirmed positive, six of which were contacts of the primary cases.
In total, 89 contacts have been traced. Of these, 51 individuals have completed follow-up and been discharged, while 32 remain under monitoring.
Among the confirmed cases, ten have been treated and discharged, while five are still undergoing treatment.
In addition to clinical management, Nakuru County has intensified public health efforts by inspecting business premises to ensure hygiene compliance.
Since the beginning of the year, over 800 establishments have been checked for adherence to sanitation standards. These inspections also served as platforms for Mpox awareness, reaching more than 3,100 individuals.
As a result of the inspections, 71 statutory notices and 19 closure notices were issued to non-compliant businesses. Furthermore, over 140 food handlers have been medically examined and certified to uphold food safety measures.
The county has also extended its Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) strategies to the education sector. More than 130 schools have been assessed for WASH and IPC compliance to help curb the spread of the virus in learning institutions.
While the situation remains fluid, the Nakuru County Government urges residents to remain vigilant and adhere to public health guidelines as they await the official rollout of the Mpox vaccination program.