Panic as Bungoma confirms three active cases of Mpox, one fatality
By Tony Wafula, August 1, 2025Bungoma County has confirmed three active cases of Mpox and one death, sparking concern among health authorities and residents.
The county department of health and sanitation has since heightened disease surveillance and intensified public awareness campaigns to contain any further spread.
Addressing the media at the Bungoma County Referral Hospital (BCRH) on Thursday, the County Director of Health and Sanitation, Dr Caleb Watta revealed that a total of four Mpox cases had been detected within the county with one fatality recorded.
“The situation in Bungoma is that we have had four cases that were tested and confirmed, unfortunately we lost one of the patients, though the cause of death was linked to underlying health conditions not Mpox itself,” Dr Watta clarified.
He explained that the deceased patient had clinically recovered from Mpox but succumbed due to preexisting medical complications.
To prevent further spread, Dr Watta stated that the county has stepped up community engagement efforts particularly in border regions and high-risk areas to educate the public on the signs and symptoms of Mpox and emphasize the importance of hygiene and early reporting.
“Our department is actively involving the community through risk communication, training of healthcare workers and sensitization of Community Health Promoters (CHPs),” said Dr Watta.
He noted that Bungoma’s porous border with Uganda presents a significant challenge, especially at the official port of entry at Lwakhakha as well as other informal crossing points in Sirisia and Cheptais sub-counties.
“We have increased testing at the border points and working closely with our surveillance teams. So far, 14 individuals have been tested out of which four were confirmed positive for Mpox,” he said.
The County Health Department has also intensified capacity building among healthcare workers, urging them to maintain a high index of suspicion for any suspected Mpox cases. Clinicians have been trained to identify typical Mpox symptoms most notably a painful skin rash that closely resembles chickenpox.
“Any trained clinician can detect a potential case. Suspected samples are collected and sent to Kemri for analysis and results are usually available within 24 hours,” Dr Watta said.
He added that the county government is coordinating with neighboring counties such as Trans Nzoia and Busia, which have also reported Mpox cases. The inter-county collaboration aims to enhance surveillance and promote harmonized response strategies across the region.
“We are encouraging the public to be vigilant, observe high levels of personal hygiene, avoid close contact with individuals showing symptoms and report any suspicious cases promptly,” he emphasized.