Nairobi – Kenya’s Ministry of Health declared an Mpox outbreak on 31st July 2024 after the first case of a truck driver was detected and isolated in Taita-Taveta county. As of 12th December 2024, 28 confirmed Mpox cases have been reported across 12 counties  with 18 (64.3%) recoveries, 9 (32.1%) admissions and one (1) death, case fatality rate (CFR) of  3.6%

To enhance the country's coordinated response, operational readiness and capacity for prompt interventions to the ongoing Mpox outbreak. The Ministry of Health with support from the WHO Emergency and Preparedness Program conducted an Intra-Action Review (IAR) to review the country's response to the outbreak and identify best practices, challenges, practical areas for immediate remediation or continued improvement. This IAR led to the development of a practical plan of action for operationalization and implementation of Mpox outbreak preparedness and response plan.

The IAR collectively assessed the existing response capacities and activities, identified milestones, documented lessons and challenges across all response pillars at national and subnational levels. Gaps were identified while best practices were harnessed for institutionalization among the outbreak counties. An action plan was developed to guide a way forward for planned actions that allocated responsibilities and timelines of implementation. The workshop had 120 participants who included 60 health experts in the cadres of county disease surveillance coordinators, vaccination logisticians, clinicians, port health officers, emergence operation centres (EOC) managers, risk and communication experts from 13 outbreak and high-risk counties of Busia, Bungoma, Nakuru, Kericho, Uasin Gishu, Taita Taveta, Machakos, Makueni, Kilifi, Kajiado, Kiambu, Nairobi and Mombasa.  

In his opening remarks, Dr. Daniel Langat, the head of division of disease surveillance and response (DDSR) in the MOH emphasized on “the need for enhancing coordinated response mechanisms at the national and county levels through the existing incident management system, adoption of existing guidelines, enhancing communication and strengthening capacities in surveillance, diagnostics and case management for effective response to the outbreak”.

There was cross-cutting review and assessment of seven consolidated response pillars:  i) Surveillance, case investigation and contact tracing; Points of Entry (POE); Rapid Response Training (RRT) ii)  Coordination, planning and monitoring response iii) Risk communication, community engagement, and infodemic management; iv) Case management and therapeutics, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), Mental Health, and Psychosocial support (MHPSS) v)  Water Sanitation Hygiene (WASH)/ Safe and Dignified Burials (SDB) vi)  Operations, Logistics and Support (OSL), Vaccination and access to medical countermeasures vii)  National Public Health Laboratory system and sub national laboratory systems.

Based on the significance of impact and feasibility of implementation, 35 response activities were identified for priority implementation in the next six months, they broadly include; cascading of integrated mpox trainings, harmonization of surveillance tools, deployment of rapid response teams (RRT), Operationalization of the County Public Health Emergency funds, enhance cross border coordination, establishment of case management units/isolation centres, prepositioning of laboratory supplies, community advocacy and sensitization and deployment of vaccines in high risk populations.  

In her closing remarks, Dr. Grace Ikahu, Director of Public Health in Kenya’s MOH observed that for successful interruption of community transmission and containment of the outbreak “there is urgent  need for capacity building of frontline healthcare workers at national and county levels to rapidly detect and effectively respond to Mpox cases, focus should be on integrated HIV- Mpox syndemic management and need for strengthening resource mobilization initiatives through partnerships and collaborations. Advocacy and community engagement by integrating school health programmes will provide a wider community protection”.

Mr. Nasorro Mwanyalu, the Mombasa County Disease Surveillance coordinator noted that “the IAR was timely as it will go a long way to improve their response, specifically on coordination and collaboration among counties, enhancing contact tracing, active case finding and case management while optimizing sample collection, specimen referral and timely laboratory diagnosis”  

The successful implementation of the IAR relied on technical guidance from national MOH and health sector partners from US CDC, UNICEF, Kenya Red Cross, MSF, Africa CDC, AFENET, FELTP, FAO, Savannah Informatics, AMREF, GOARN, KEMRI, MTaPs. The activity was implemented through the generous financial support from USAID Kenya towards strengthening Mpox response in Kenya.