In response to the recent Mpox outbreak, the Kenyan government has issued a cautionary advisory urging citizens to avoid handling or consuming bush meat. Two cases of the disease have been reported in the country, with the most recent involving a male truck driver at the Malaba One Stop Border post in Busia.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano stressed the importance of public vigilance, even though the identified cases have been contained. Miano highlighted that zoonotic diseases, those that can be transmitted between animals and humans, pose a significant global public health threat, often spreading through direct contact, contaminated food, water, or environmental sources.
“Zoonotic diseases, whether bacterial, viral, or parasitic, spread through various means and are a major public health concern worldwide,” Miano stated.
Mpox, which is a viral disease that can be transmitted from wild animals to humans, has been linked to changing climate conditions, which Miano noted as a contributing factor to the increasing frequency of such diseases. She urged the public to steer clear of bush meat to help prevent further transmission.
This advisory is a proactive step by the government to safeguard public health and prevent a potential escalation of the Mpox outbreak.
By Newshub