Samples taken from people suspected to have monkeypox in Kenya have been ferried to Senegal for testing and further investigation, the Nation has learnt.

The Ministry of Health on Friday cleared the samples to be flown there since the country’s testing capacity is limited given the rarity of the disease.

Read: Monkeypox explainer: how do you catch it and what are the risks?

“The test is done using an antigen and since as a country we don’t have the capacity to test, we had to take them to a country that has dealt with the outbreak before and their laboratories are certified,” said a Ministry of Health official who sought anonymity.

The official said should the test turn positive, then the ministry will have to budget for the testing materials and also ensure that we are able to test for the virus.

Health CS Mutahi Kagwe and principal secretary Susan Mochache did not respond to our calls and messages on the issue.