Kenya’s Ministry of Health has raised the alarm over the continued spread of mpox, identifying seven counties as high-risk zones as the national case count climbs past 1,300.
According to the latest figures from the ministry, the country has recorded 1,298 confirmed mpox cases and 19 deaths across 40 of Kenya’s 47 counties. Mombasa and Nairobi remain the hardest-hit counties, accounting for 452 and 320 cases respectively, followed by Busia with 115 cases — patterns officials link to the counties’ roles as major transport corridors and border crossing points.
The ministry has named Mombasa, Nairobi, Busia, Makueni, Kiambu, Kilifi and Nakuru as the counties requiring heightened surveillance, citing their exposure to cross-border and inter-county movement as a key driver of transmission risk.
Principal Secretary for Public Health Mary Muthoni urged Kenyans to strengthen hygiene and preventive practices, warning that continued community transmission combined with movement along major transport routes “could increase the risk of further infections.”
In response, the ministry says it is scaling up surveillance, expanding vaccination access, and stepping up public awareness campaigns, alongside tighter screening measures at border points. Officials say coordination between national and county health authorities is being strengthened to track the outbreak’s spread and respond more quickly to new clusters.
Mpox, a viral illness related to smallpox that spreads primarily through close contact, causes fever, swollen lymph nodes and a distinctive rash that can leave lasting scarring. While most cases resolve without serious complications, the disease can be severe or fatal in vulnerable groups, including young children and people with weakened immune systems.
The health ministry says it is also keeping a close watch on other emerging health threats, including Ebola — for which Kenya has recorded no confirmed cases — as well as preparing for potential health impacts linked to anticipated El Niño rains in the coming months.
Health officials have called on residents in the flagged counties, as well as travellers moving through major transport hubs, to remain vigilant, seek early treatment for suspected symptoms, and take up vaccination where it is available, as the ministry works to bring the outbreak under control.