Philippine Embassy in Nairobi Cautions Filipinos Amid Rising Mpox Cases in Kenya

NAIROBI — The Philippine Embassy in Nairobi has issued a cautionary advisory to Filipinos in Kenya in light of the escalating Mpox outbreak that has now affected multiple African countries.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Filipino community is encouraged to stay vigilant and adhere strictly to preventive health measures. This includes avoiding physical contact with symptomatic individuals, not touching their belongings, and practicing regular handwashing with soap and water. The advisory underscores the importance of following local public health guidelines to curtail the spread of the disease both locally and internationally.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reports that approximately 119 Filipinos currently reside and work in Kenya. This advisory comes in the wake of the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring Mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on August 14, due to a new strain identified in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its subsequent spread to neighboring countries.

In 2024 alone, WHO has reported over 2,100 laboratory-confirmed cases and 13 deaths across 12 countries, including Kenya. This marks a significant increase from the previous year, which saw 1,145 confirmed cases and seven deaths across 11 countries. The disease, which can be contracted by anyone, is known to spread through direct contact with infected individuals or animals, contaminated objects, and respiratory droplets.