Amagoro: Teso North Sub-County held a sensitisation forum on Tuesday in Amagoro in preparation for a 10-day MonkeyPox (Mpox) campaign set to begin on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. The campaign aims to address the recent surge in Mpox cases within the region, following Kenya’s first recorded case in July 2025.
According to Kenya News Agency, the majority of cases have been reported among truck drivers, with Busia County documenting 60 cases so far. Matayos Sub County leads with 28 cases, while Teso North has 20. Teso South has recorded 10 cases, and Nambale and Butula have reported one case each. Teso Central and Butula remain unaffected for now. The high incidence in Matayos and Teso North is attributed to their locations along the Northern Corridors of Busia and Malaba.
Mpox, a viral disease, spreads through contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids or contaminated personal items. Judith Ekanusu, Teso North Sub-County public health officer, highlighted symptoms such as skin rash, fever, sore throat, headache, body aches, back pain, and swollen lymph nodes. Ekanusu urged the community to avoid close contact with symptomatic individuals and to refrain from sharing personal items like towels and utensils. She stressed the importance of protective measures, hand hygiene, ventilation, and regular disinfection.
The forum, sponsored by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), was officially opened by Kamolo Assistant County Commissioner, Mercy Walela. Walela emphasized the importance of mitigating the disease’s severe effects and encouraged Kenyans to adhere to strict hygiene practices, given that closing borders is not feasible due to trade with neighboring countries.
Gloria Ojune, Mpox and Non-Communicable Diseases Coordinator, pointed out that transmission occurs primarily through close contact with an infected person. She highlighted that individuals with compromised immunity, such as the elderly, people living with HIV, young children, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, and those with underlying conditions, are at a higher risk.
Ojune also mentioned the measures at the Malaba One Stop Border Post, where scanners are used to detect high temperatures associated with the Mpox virus. She noted the community’s rejection of the isolation center at Alupe during previous outbreaks, prompting sub-counties to manage cases independently. Ojune advocated for an isolation center at Malaba Health Centre to better accommodate cross-border diseases.
Highlighting the challenges, Ojune stated that the government has provided only 1500 vaccines to Teso North, insufficient for the region’s needs. The target groups for vaccination include truck drivers, mechanics, healthcare workers, and sex workers. Ojune stressed that preventive measures must continue even after the vaccination period and advised those experiencing vaccine side effects to seek medical attention. Common side effects include pain, itching, and swelling at the injection site, along with fatigue and headaches.