The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, has revealed that more than 800 people have died from the meningitis outbreak in Nigeria.
Adewole, however, insisted that the disease is now spreading more slowly.
“As of yesterday (Tuesday), the number of deaths stood at 813,” he told reporters in Abuja after a cabinet meeting.
“As of now, we are noticing a decline.
“This is week 16. This is also expected because we are moving away from the active season. We are confident that in the next couple of weeks everything will be over.”
The outbreak of meningitis C is concentrated in northern Nigeria, where a mass vaccination programme has begun to deal with the spread.
Last week, the number of deaths was put at 745, with more than 8,000 suspected cases.
Adewole also confirmed that the government was trying to create a joint venture with a local drug manufacturer, to produce vaccines in Nigeria itself.
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