Mpox Spreads To More Counties As Cases Rise To 137

The Ministry of Health has confirmed that the Mpox virus has spread to new counties outside the Northern Transport Corridor, including Kisii and Kirinyaga, as the number of reported cases reaches 137.

Through a statement on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni said the virus has now been detected in 17 counties across the country.

Busia leads with 48 confirmed cases, followed by Mombasa (37), Nakuru (16), and Makueni (10). Nairobi has five cases, while Kajiado and Bungoma each have three.

aita Taveta, Kericho, and Kilifi have reported two cases each. Other counties affected include Kiambu, Uasin Gishu, Migori, Isiolo, Machakos, Kisii, and Kirinyaga with one or two cases each.

Muthoni also reported that health officials have identified 400 people who came into contact with infected individuals.

So far, 315 of these contacts have been monitored for the recommended 21 days, and nine of them later tested positive for Mpox.

To contain the outbreak, the ministry has intensified screening at Points of Entry, where over 4.8 million travelers have been checked.

Suspected cases are sent to the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) and partner labs for testing. Out of 597 samples analyzed, 137 have tested positive for Mpox.

“The Ministry of Health remains committed to controlling the Mpox virus outbreak and protecting the health and safety of all Kenyans. We appreciate the continued efforts by the public in helping us combat this outbreak and safeguarding the wellbeing of our republic,” said PS Muthoni.

She also revealed that 15 million SMS alerts have been sent to the public via Safaricom to raise awareness and encourage preventive measures.

As part of the national response, the government received nearly 11,000 doses of the Mpox vaccine, known as Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic (MVA-BN).

In a statement released on April 10, 2025, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale confirmed that the vaccines were secured with support from Africa CDC, WHO, UNICEF, and GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance.

“The arrival of the vaccines marks a significant milestone in the national response to interrupt the chain of transmission and limit further spread of Mpox in the community,” said Duale.

The vaccines are being used alongside other public health strategies, including testing, contact tracing, and community engagement, to control the outbreak.