Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire – The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), through its specialized health institution, the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), has called on researchers, policymakers, and healthcare professionals to strengthen regional health security in the fight against Lassa fever and other emerging infectious diseases.
This appeal comes ahead of the second Lassa Fever International Conference, scheduled for September 2025 in Côte d’Ivoire, aimed at enhancing regional cooperation in disease control.
Conference Focus: Strengthening Regional Cooperation
The conference, themed “Beyond Borders: Strengthening Regional Cooperation to Combat Lassa Fever and Emerging Infectious Diseases,” will focus on:
- Improving research and development capacity
- Enhancing outbreak management systems
- Promoting multisectoral collaboration to prevent and control disease spread
WAHO emphasized that sustainable preparedness must go beyond emergency response to include long-term research, policy coordination, and health system strengthening.
Lassa Fever: A Growing Public Health Threat
Lassa fever, a viral haemorrhagic disease, remains endemic in Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. Despite global efforts, outbreaks continue to resurface, exposing critical weaknesses in West Africa’s healthcare infrastructure.
So far in 2025, Nigeria has reported 506 confirmed cases and 95 deaths from Lassa fever, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). The disease, which infects between 100,000 and 300,000 people annually, has been classified as a priority disease by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Urgency for Regional Collaboration
WAHO highlighted that no single country can combat Lassa fever alone, given the rapid spread of infectious diseases due to global travel, climate change, and population growth. Recent studies suggest that up to 600 million people could be at risk in the future.
WAHO Director General Dr. Melchior AÏSSI underscored the urgency, stating:
“Lassa fever continues to threaten public health, livelihoods, and economic stability. With the rising number of infections and deaths, regional preparedness is not just necessary—it is critical.”
Dr. Katrin Ramsauer, Lassa Disease Programme Lead at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), added:
“This conference is an important opportunity for scientists and global health experts to share knowledge and identify research gaps. The discussions will shape the future response to Lassa fever outbreaks, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change and population growth.”
Key Discussions & Expected Outcomes
The 2025 conference will build on the progress of the first edition held in Abuja, Nigeria, in 2019. It will bring together scientists, policymakers, healthcare professionals, and key stakeholders to:
- Evaluate the progress of Lassa fever vaccine candidates currently in clinical trials
- Discuss financing strategies for disease prevention and outbreak response
- Strengthen cross-border cooperation and multi-sectoral engagement
- Advance community surveillance efforts and environmental health strategies
Path Forward
With Lassa fever outbreaks growing in scale and frequency, WAHO and ECOWAS are emphasizing the need for proactive, long-term strategies to improve regional response capacity.
The conference is expected to set the foundation for stronger collaboration among West African nations, ensuring that future outbreaks are met with faster, more coordinated responses to protect public health.