Experts blame relaxed restrictions as Mpox cases rise in Mombasa

Loosened restrictions are fuelling the spread of Mpox, with Mombasa reporting a surge in cases, health experts have warned.

The outbreak has now spread across the country, with Trans Nzoia becoming the latest county to confirm an infection.

In Mombasa, transmission has reached the community level.

Dr Mohammed Hanif, Mombasa County Director of Clinical Services, says public sensitisation is ongoing to help break the chain of transmission.

“We are encouraging residents to maintain high levels of personal hygiene, wash hands regularly and report any unusual rashes, especially blisters, for prompt testing and treatment,” says Dr Hanif.

“There is no specific cure for Mpox. We manage symptoms using antibiotics and painkillers. Patients must avoid spreading it to others, that means avoiding contact with surfaces and maintaining strict hygiene,” says the official.

Current infections, he says, tend to be more severe among the elderly, children, pregnant women and individuals with weakened immunity such as those living with diabetes or HIV.

Two weeks ago, African CDC highlighted the infections as a point of concern.

“The ongoing outbreak has expanded beyond the Northern transport corridor, indicating wider community transmission,” reads a section of Africa CDC documentation.

Prof Julius Oyugi, Director of Research at the University of Nairobi’s Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, explains that Mpox is a viral infection caused by the Mpox virus, first identified as endemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the 1970s.

He notes that most of the recent cases detected in Mombasa involve adults in their late 40s, with 12 traced to truck drivers and eight to sex workers.

He notes that most cases recently detected in Mombasa involve adults in their late 40s, with 12 cases traced to truck drivers and eight to sex workers. “One of the mode of transmission of Mpox is through sexual intercourse. Although the general mode of transmission of Mpox is through body contacts, but intercourse is one of the biggest cause.

Possibly because of sex trade in Mombasa, it could be contributing to the spread because if someone is infected and rashes presents, they can infect others. This could be one of the things fuelling spread of Mpox in Mombasa,” says Prof Oyugi.

But with community transmission now evident, Prof Oyugi says that the virus is spreading widely from one person to another.