Kenya multisectoral action plan to improve mpox response

The Kenyan Ministry of Health (MOH) declared a mpox outbreak on 31 July 2024, after the first case was diagnosed to a truck driver in Taita-Taveta county. As of 12 December 2024, 28 confirmed cases were reported in 12 counties, with 18 recoveries, 9 admissions and 1 death, with a mortality rate (CFR) of 3.6%. The MOH, with support from the WHO, conducted an intra-action review (IAR) to identify challenges, assess response capacities, and develop an action plan for better preparedness for the mpox epidemic. The review involved 120 health experts from 13 counties, focusing on seven key response pillars including surveillance, case management, risk communication and vaccination. Priority actions include training, improvement of monitoring tools, deployment of rapid response teams and strengthening community involvement. IAR will help improve contact tracing and active case detection, while optimising sample collection, sample reporting and early laboratory diagnosis, the Mombasa County Disease Surveillance coordinator Nasorro Mwanyalu declared. The implementation of the IAR is under the technical guidance of the national MOH and health sector partners, i.e. US CDC, UNICEF, Kenya Red Cross, MSF, Africa CDC, AMREF, and many other national and international partners, while financial support is guaranteed by USAID Kenya.