BREAKING: Nigeria Runs Out of Vaccine as Cholera Death Toll Hits 40

• The death toll from the cholera outbreak in Lagos state and a few parts of Nigeria has moved up
• Legit.ng reports that cholera is an extremely virulent disease transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated food or water
• More than 30 people — many of them in Lagos — have been killed by the disease since the start of 2024

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering public journalism and politics in Nigeria.

Ikeja, Lagos state - Amid the country's current battle with cholera outbreak, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said the country does not have enough vaccines.

As reported by The Punch on Saturday, June 22, the death toll from the latest cholera outbreak has hit 40.

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Lagos cholera outbreak: Over 20 dead, cases jump to 417, state govt gives fresh update

The media platform stated that in the last 12 days, the incidence rate of cholera in Nigeria for 2024 had hit 1,222 suspected cases, 88 confirmed cases, and 40 fatalities.

Speaking in an interview, Dr Jide Idris, the director general (DG) of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said the country has placed an order for more cholera vaccines from donor agencies, but the date of delivery is still unknown.

Idris said:

"We don’t have enough to prevent an outbreak, because we need to give these things before that time."

The NCDC boss added:

“We don’t manufacture vaccines. We get them from donor agencies, just like any other country does."

More to read on cholera outbreak

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Just In: Worries as cholera death toll in Lagos rises to 21, other details emerge

• Lagos cholera outbreak: Over 20 dead, cases jump to 417, state govt gives fresh update
• Cholera outbreak in Lagos: 5 dead, 60 admitted in hospitals as state govt gives fresh update
• Worries as cholera death toll in Lagos rises to 21, other details emerge

$1bn to be pledged for African vaccine sovereignty

In a piece of related news, Legit.ng reported that more than one billion dollars will be pledged towards ramping up vaccine production in Africa at a recent summit held in Paris.

A "new mechanism to accelerate the financing of vaccine production on the African continent" was launched during the summit, which was attended by several African leaders, together with the heads of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Gavi vaccine alliance.

Source: Legit.ng