Urgent call for Mpox vaccines as Mombasa reports increased cases
The coastal city has emerged as the epicentre of Kenya’s outbreak
Health experts and humanitarian groups are calling for the rapid deployment of Mpox vaccines in Mombasa and other high-risk areas.
The coastal city has emerged as the epicentre of Kenya’s outbreak.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has warned that without swift vaccination, the highly contagious viral disease could spread further and overwhelm local health systems.
Since July 2024, Kenya has recorded 336 Mpox cases across 24 counties, with Mombasa leading at 152 cases.
“We are glad to learn that the Ministry of Health has received Mpox vaccines,” said Laura Gómez Mantilla, MSF Country Director in Kenya.
“MSF is ready and willing to support vaccination efforts in Mombasa, and we urge the Ministry to swiftly make vaccines available here and in other counties with high caseloads. Acting quickly will help protect communities and bring this outbreak under control.”
MSF, working alongside the Mombasa County Department of Health, has been providing inpatient care at the Utange Field Hospital Isolation Centre for patients with advanced Mpox and coexisting conditions.
The organisation is also bolstering infection prevention measures, offering clinical and nutritional support, and donating hygiene supplies.
To curb further spread, MSF has trained 70 peer educators and sensitized 1,000 sex workers on Mpox recognition and referral for care.
The group has also integrated public awareness campaigns into its broader health outreach programmes.
Mpox is a viral disease marked by rashes, fever, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes.
While symptoms typically last two to four weeks, severe cases can result in complications and sometimes death, particularly among immunocompromised individuals.
Mpox spreads through close contact. The Ministry of Health urged Kenyans to maintain good hygiene and avoid skin-to-skin contact with infected individuals.
Caroline Mugun, MSF Project Medical Referent in Mombasa, stressed that vaccines are just one part of the solution.
“We must strengthen community-level case detection and referral systems, and address stigma through education that encourages early care-seeking,” she said.
