Nakuru County’s Health department has singled out long distance drivers and commercial sex workers as being at a high risk of contracting Mpox.

This comes as Nakuru registers the highest Mpox cases in the country, with the numbers rising to six as at Monday, December 2.

Of the six, four are truck drivers while two are sex workers. Three are currently in isolation centres across the county, while the other three were discharged after completing the 21-day treatment.

The first case was noted on August 31, 2024.

So what is the department doing to manage this situation?

According to Health Executive Roselyn Mungai, the cases are a result of Nakuru being along the Northern corridor.

Health CEC Roselyn Mungai addresses journalists at a previous media sensitization workshop on Mpox in Nakuru city.

Photo credit: COURTESY/ NGPU

Owing to this, eight high risk areas have been mapped out. These are the truck stops at Mai Mahiu, Salgaa, Total, Longonot, Kikopey, Pipeline, Sachang’wan and Nakuru city centre.

At the same time, the department has planned a sensitization program for sex workers on infection prevention control beginning next week.

The training will also continue for lodging owners and cleaners working in these facilities.

According to the latest status report, 15 lodgings have so far been sensitized on Mpox prevention.

“Mpox is a contact disease hence we need this key population to know how to prevent themselves from contracting the disease as well as identifying the symptoms. The training will also involve how and where they can report any suspected Mpox cases in the County,” says the county Health Director Elizabeth Kiptoo.

On Ms Mungai’s part, the CEC expresses confidence in the department’s ability to handle the disease noting that there is enhanced surveillance across the County.

“We have also set up isolation centres and equipped them in case this (disease) blows up,” she adds.

The isolation facilities with a bed capacity of 192 are at the hospitals in Naivasha, Gilgil, St joseph’s, St Mary’s, Mother Kelvin, Mirugi Kariuki, Nakuru PGH, Bondeni, Elburgon and Sachangwan Health center.

The department is also carrying out sensitization and training of health care workers as well as community health volunteers.

In the meantime, the public is encouraged to employ hygiene practices that include washing hands regularly and covering the mouth when sneezing or coughing.

County battles spread of Mpox virus in residential areas, as cases rise to nine

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Leleti Jassor