By Rodgers Omondi and Faith Anene
Western Kenya has now become the epicentre of the ongoing Mpox outbreak, with Busia, Bungoma, and Kakamega counties confirming positive cases of the viral disease.
Busia County is emerging as the second hardest-hit region in Kenya after the country’s top hotspot, with 56 confirmed infections and two reported deaths.
Health authorities in Busia have launched a full-scale response led by the County Health Management Team (CHMT), aimed at curbing the spread of the virus.
Evans Shiraku, the disease surveillance coordinator, who addressed stakeholders during a sensitization forum held earlier this week said that the county cannot afford to be complacent in the face of the outbreak.
“Current national data reveals that Kenya has reported 226 confirmed Mpox cases spread across 13 counties. Busia County accounts for 56 of these, with two hospitalizations, two deaths, and eight patients under home-based care,” said Shiraku.
One of the biggest concerns, Shiraku noted, is the county’s proximity to Uganda, which presents unique cross-border transmission risks. “Of the confirmed cases, 53 are Kenyan nationals, while three are Ugandans,” he said, adding that the international aspect of the outbreak complicates efforts to contain it.
A breakdown of the cases by sub-county shows that Matayos is bearing the greatest burden with 26 confirmed infections, followed by Teso North with 19, Teso South with 10, and Nambale with one.
Shiraku also shared demographic data that indicated young adults were most vulnerable. “The most affected age group is between 20 and 29 years, with 20 confirmed cases. Other affected groups include people aged 30 to 39 years (16 cases), 40 to 49 years (9), children aged 1 to 9 years (5), teenagers aged 10 to 19 years (4), and one case among people aged 50 to 59 years,” he said.
On gender distribution, he noted that women had slightly more cases than men. “We have 29 cases among women and 26 among men. This pattern is in line with Mpox outbreaks globally and indicates the need for gender-sensitive prevention strategies.”
Further analysis showed that occupational exposure also played a role in transmission. Shiraku revealed that businesspeople accounted for the highest number of cases (17), followed by students (8), truck drivers (5), and sex workers (4). Salon workers recorded three infections, while isolated cases were also found among teachers, boda boda riders, and farmers. Fifteen cases were spread across other unspecified occupations.
“This data helps us understand how transmission occurs in different community settings and occupations,” Shiraku explained. “It enables us to plan targeted responses.”
Busia’s health officials said they were taking a proactive approach by intensifying surveillance, public education, and community engagement. “The health communication forum was a chance to reinforce early detection, information-sharing, and stakeholder collaboration,” Shiraku added.
Meanwhile, in neighbouring Kakamega County, Governor Fernandes Barasa confirmed three Mpox cases in Chekalini Ward, Lugari Constituency. The infected persons include a 52-year-old truck driver, his wife, and a woman who had recently travelled from Nairobi.
Governor Barasa said all three were currently receiving treatment in isolation at a newly established center in Chekalini. “As a county, we have activated our emergency response mechanisms. The affected individuals are under strict isolation and are receiving supportive care,” he stated.
He added that six close family members of the infected patients had been placed under a 21-day home-based quarantine. “Our health teams are well-equipped with adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to ensure their safety during operations,” he said.
The governor also noted that the county had intensified public health education and deployed officers to conduct community sensitisation and risk communication. A multi-agency team has been activated to coordinate the Mpox response across all 12 sub-counties.
Kakamega has also expanded isolation capacity at the county referral hospital and scaled up disease surveillance. Governor Barasa urged residents to remain alert and to report any suspected cases to the nearest health facility. “I want to urge the public to remain calm as we continue to monitor and manage the situation,” he said.
