The County Government of Mombasa is on high alert after four people died within a few days, three of them on Monday, in the Matangini area of Miritini.
The victims were all found dead inside their houses with swollen bodies covered in blisters, resembling severe burns.
“They looked like they had been scalded with hot water. Their flesh came off when we tried to carry them. We don’t know what kind of disease this is. We don’t know if it’s contagious,” said Mr Edwina Adera, a resident.
Mr Salim Mohamed, another resident, urged the government to conduct immediate tests to determine the cause.
“People are terrified. We don’t know who will be next,” he said.
Residents are pleading with both the county and national governments to deploy health experts to assess whether isolation or quarantine measures are needed.
“We have started using gloves and masks but we aere not sure they are enough. We just need answers and protection,” Mr. Mohamed added.
On Tuesday, the county administration dispatched a public health team to the area, and samples were collected from the victims for testing.
A press briefing planned for Tuesday evening was cancelled at the last minute. However, in a later statement, the Mombasa County Department of Health confirmed it had received unverified reports of four deaths under unclear circumstances.
According to the department, an investigative team was immediately deployed in response to community concerns.
“The team confirmed that four bodies were identified with the deaths occurring between July 9 and July 14, 2025,” the statement read, adding that the victims had underlying health conditions and that the bodies had already begun to decompose when found.
The first case involved a 91-year-old woman who died at home on July 9. On July 14, a 57-year-old man, a 69-year-old man, and a 55-year-old man were found dead inside their homes under similar circumstances.
“All four bodies are currently preserved at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary where postmortems and further evaluations are expected to be conducted,” the health department stated.
It said that no evidence has so far pointed to an infectious outbreak, but urged the public to remain vigilant.
Residents have been advised to report any missing persons to local leaders or community health promoters, avoid direct contact with human remains, maintain strict hygiene and seek immediate medical attention if feeling unwell.
The county government says it is closely monitoring the situation and will provide further updates once investigations are complete.
