One person has succumbed to Mpox and a total of 13 cases have been reported since the detection of the first case of the virus in Kenya, the Ministry of Health has said.
Speaking to the media today, Health Director-General Patrick Amoth stated that the patient died while undergoing treatment while also battling existing medical complications.
The DG revealed that eight people have already recovered from the virus while four others are still admitted in hospitals.
“Eight of those have recovered and have gone home, four are still admitted to the hospital.” Amoth stated.
The cases were detected from 236 samples that were tested in laboratories and the cases were confirmed in 10 counties.
This comes as today the Ministry of Health today received the World Health Organization donated 15.2 million tablets of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) medicines worth $1.6 million (Ksh.213M).
Health Cabinet Secretary Debra Barasa lauded the move, noting that the donation will greatly help tame the spread of NTDs in the nation.
She said the tablets will aid in addressing three neglected endemic tropical diseases including Lymphatic filariasis, Soil-transmitted helminths, and Schistosomiasis which are targeted to be eliminated by 2027.
Barasa added that the drugs will be rolled out in the next mass drug administration targeting 15 counties in the Coastal Region, Lake Victoria Basin, and Western Region which have high infection numbers.
“As we implement this campaign I want to emphasize the critical role of community health promoters in the successful execution of NDAs in endemic regions. I direct teams to also register all household members they visit for the Social Health Insurance Fund. This will enable them to access affordable services under the Universal Health Programme.” The CS said.