The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), through its specialized health body, the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), has called for a collective effort from researchers, policymakers, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders to strengthen the region’s health security against Lassa fever and other emerging infectious diseases.
This call was made on Friday following the announcement of the second Lassa Fever International Conference, set for September 2025 in Côte d’Ivoire. The theme for the conference, “Beyond Borders: Strengthening Regional Cooperation to Combat Lassa Fever and Emerging Infectious Diseases,” aims to improve preparedness and regional coordination by enhancing research, outbreak management, and fostering multisectoral collaboration.
Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic disease endemic to West Africa, particularly affects Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. Since its discovery, the disease has exposed significant gaps in the region’s health infrastructure.
As of 2025, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 506 cases of Lassa fever, with 95 deaths out of 2,492 suspected cases.
Although the World Health Organization (WHO) classifies Lassa fever as a priority disease, outbreaks continue to follow a recurring cycle of temporary containment, followed by new outbreaks. This highlights the need for sustainable preparedness that goes beyond mere response and includes research, coordination, and strengthening health systems.
WAHO emphasized that no single country can address the challenges of Lassa fever and other emerging diseases independently. In the context of globalization, faster travel, and frequent cross-border movements, regional cooperation, data-sharing, and resource pooling are essential to enhance response efficiency and health security.
Dr. Melchior AÏSSI, Director-General of WAHO, stressed the persistence of Lassa fever as a threat, noting that the disease causes between 100,000 and 300,000 infections annually, with around 5,000 deaths. Recent forecasts suggest that up to 600 million people could be at risk due to factors such as climate change, underscoring the need for heightened vigilance and preparedness.
Dr. Katrin Ramsauer, Lassa Disease Programme Lead at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, remarked on the progress made in tackling Lassa fever, emphasizing that the upcoming conference will be an opportunity for global health experts to share knowledge and identify research gaps to improve future responses.
The conference will feature various sessions, including plenary discussions by health leaders, financing mechanisms, cross-border coordination, and panels on vaccine research and community surveillance. There will also be sessions dedicated to operational research and environmental issues.
