Korede Abdullah in Lagos
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) through its specialized health agency, West African Health Organisation (WAHO) has urged researchers, policymakers, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders to contribute to strengthening regional health security against Lassa fever and other emerging infectious diseases.
This call was made while announcing the second Lassa Fever International Conference, scheduled to hold in September 2025, in Côte d’Ivoire.
The conference aims to advance sustainable preparedness and regional coordination for Lassa fever through enhanced research and development capacity, improved outbreak management systems, and multisectoral collaboration.
According to WAHO, Lassa fever outbreaks follow a recurring pattern of temporary containment followed by fresh outbreaks, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable preparedness.
“No single country can address challenges posed by Lassa fever and emerging infectious diseases alone… Countries can significantly improve their response speed and effectiveness by sharing data, resources, and expertise,” WAHO stated.
The Director General of WAHO, Dr. Melchior AÏSSI, emphasized that Lassa fever “remains a persistent threat to our populations, severely impacting our lives, health, and economic systems.”
The conference will feature diverse sessions, including plenary discussions, panel discussions on vaccine research, community surveillance, and parallel sessions on operational research and environmental topics.
Dr. Katrin Ramsauer, Lassa Disease Programme Lead at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, noted that the conference is an important moment for scientists and global health experts to share new knowledge and spot remaining research gaps to combat Lassa fever.
