MPOX

With the addition of two newly confirmed cases, Kenya's mpox tally now stands at a concerning 33. It's a number that keeps health officials on their toes, perhaps reaching for the antacid more often these days. But where do these cases come from? As of this Friday, they hail from the counties of Kericho and Taita Taveta, marking the virus's unwelcome trek across 12 counties. Mary Muriuki, the unflappable principal secretary from the Health Ministry, delivered this sobering reality check during a recent press…

NAIROBI, Kenya - In a rather unwelcome update, Kenya announced the confirmation of two additional mpox cases this past Friday. That pushes the nation's total count to a less-than-comforting number of 33. Picture this: in a brief yet sobering press release, Mary Muriuki, who helms the reins as principal secretary at the Health Ministry, informed the public. It’s a tale of viral spread across two picturesque locales, Kericho and Taita Taveta. These counties are now unwittingly part of a broader, unnerving tapestry spanning…

Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is on the rise across Africa, and health officials are sounding the alarm about the risks of becoming too relaxed. According to a recent update from the World Health Organization (WHO), numerous regions on the continent are grappling with outbreaks linked to several virus variants, or clades. As of December 1, 2024, WHO reported that over 13,000 cases have been confirmed in 20 distinct nations. This report sheds light on the fact that different clades have different modes of transmission. For…

Let's dive into the latest from the Kenya Medical Research Institute, affectionately known as KEMRI, who is cooking up a storm with a fresh partnership. They're joining forces with Tonix Pharmaceuticals, an innovative biopharma outfit from across the pond in the U.S., to dish out a clinical trial for a brand-new mpox vaccine. Talk about global collaborations shaking things up! On a rather somber note, picture this: a beleaguered patient battling mpox is tended to in a hospital nestled on the periphery of Goma, North Kivu…

The surge in monkeypox cases across Africa has led to a significant response involving the distribution of vaccine doses, with Kenya standing amongst the nine nations in the continent receiving these crucial supplies. The Access and Allocation Mechanism (AAM) has earmarked an initial batch of 899,000 vaccine doses for these nine African countries, aimed at tackling the monkeypox outbreak. This decision, articulated through a press release from the World Health Organization (WHO), underscores collaboration with the countries…

Dr. Yvan Butera, the State Minister for Health in Rwanda, has issued a warning regarding the ongoing battle against the Marburg virus. While he noted some encouraging signs in the country's efforts to contain the outbreak, he emphasized that the crisis "is far from over." Yet, there’s a glimmer of optimism as Dr. Butera remarked, "we are making progress." In another concerning development, the Africa Centers for Disease Control (Africa CDC) reported that the mpox outbreak—another pressing health threat in the region—is still…

Some conspiracy enthusiasts posit that mpox was engineered by a shadowy elite aiming to reduce populations and reap profits for "big pharma." According to these theories, individuals who get vaccinated against mpox are doomed to suffer from heart attacks and a host of other grave illnesses. As highlighted by Helen McCarthy in The Conversation Africa, these conspiracies often focus on the LGBTQ+ community, casting suspicion and fear upon them. Misinformation about mpox is blooming, reminiscent of the early stages of the…

Zimbabwe has recently confirmed its inaugural two cases of mpox, coming on the heels of Zambia’s declaration of its own first instance of the disease. While the specific strains of the virus in Zimbabwe remain unidentified, it appears that the individuals who tested positive either traveled to or made visits from Tanzania and South Africa. Just days prior, Zambia reported its initial mpox case, although the particulars about the viral strain were not disclosed. The health ministry of Zambia revealed that a 32-year-old…

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has pinpointed Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), and Burundi as the hardest-hit nations in Africa amid the ongoing mpox outbreak. The latest multi-country situation report from the WHO paints a sobering picture: DR Congo has logged 30,766 suspected cases, 5,610 confirmed cases, and regrettably, 25 fatalities. Meanwhile, Burundi has reported 2,188 suspected cases, with 853 confirmed, yet it has fortunately not endured any deaths. A glance at the data, spanning from…

"Life's a wild ride, ain't it?" mused grandpa Joe as he rocked gently on his porch chair, soaking in the mellow hues of the setting sun. "You never really know where it's headed; it's a winding road full of surprises and detours." Such whimsical reflections often emerged during these tranquil evening moments, a time cherished in the family for generations. Nestled amidst rolling hills, the family homestead had been standing since time immemorial. Its creaky wooden floors and sun-dappled windows spoke of stories etched in…