Kenya, 1 November 2025 - Kenya is among several African countries experiencing a rise in mpox cases, as a new and concerning strain—known as clade Ib—spreads beyond the continent for the first time, according a World Health Organization (WHO) report.
The September 2025 report recorded 3,135 confirmed cases and 12 deaths worldwide, with more than 80 per cent occurring in Africa
Seventeen African countries have reported ongoing transmission over the past six weeks. Kenya, Liberia, Ghana, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are among the hardest hit. WHO data show rising cases in Kenya and Liberia, while Congo has seen a decline.
The UN health agency warned that all known mpox strains remain in circulation globally, with a risk of sustained community transmission if outbreaks are not rapidly contained.
As of 19 October 2025, Kenya had reported 708 confirmed mpox cases and nine deaths, yielding a case fatality rate of 1.3 per cent. The virus has been detected in 66 per cent of the country’s counties, with Mombasa accounting for 41 per cent of infections, primarily among adults aged 25–44.
Although Kenya’s Ministry of Health has not issued a new national update, regional WHO data indicate that infections continue to increase, particularly in coastal and urban areas. Clade Ib mpox has already been detected locally, making Kenya one of the first East African nations affected by the new strain.
Health experts in Kenya urge vigilance. “Mpox is not gone—it is evolving,” said a Nairobi-based infectious disease researcher. “Early detection and community awareness are critical to avoid sustained spread.”
Globally, clade Ib has now been detected in Malaysia, Namibia, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain.
Imported cases have also been reported among travelers in Belgium, Canada, Germany, Italy, Qatar, and Spain.
Alarmingly, six countries—including Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the United States—have reported local transmission, meaning the virus is spreading among people without recent travel to affected areas.
WHO emphasized that containment efforts—testing, contact tracing, and public education—remain essential.
“When mpox outbreaks are not rapidly contained and human-to-human transmission is not interrupted, there is a risk of sustained community transmission,” the agency warned.
Source: Anadolu Agency
