WAHO urges greater regional collaboration as Lassa fever becomes a big threat

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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), through its health agency, the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), has urged researchers, policymakers, and healthcare professionals to strengthen regional health security against Lassa fever and other emerging infectious diseases.

In a statement on Friday, WAHO announced the upcoming second Lassa Fever International Conference, scheduled for September 2025 in Côte d’Ivoire.

The conference, themed ‘Beyond Borders: Strengthening Regional Cooperation to Combat Lassa Fever and Emerging Infectious Diseases,’ aims to improve outbreak management, research capabilities, and multi-sectoral collaboration across the region.

Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic disease endemic to West Africa, remains a significant health threat, especially in countries like Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.

In 2025 alone, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reported 506 confirmed cases and 95 deaths. Despite being classified as a priority disease by the World Health Organization (WHO), outbreaks continue to occur, exposing vulnerabilities in the region’s health systems.

WAHO’s Director-General, Dr. Melchior Aissi, warned that climate change could expose up to 600 million people to the risk of Lassa fever and emphasized the need for sustainable preparedness and cross-border collaboration.

Dr. Katrin Ramsauer, Lassa Disease Programme Lead at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), highlighted that the conference would play a pivotal role in shaping future research and response strategies against the disease.

The 2025 conference will build on the progress made by the first edition, which was hosted by NCDC in 2019. It will bring together health leaders, researchers, and stakeholders to discuss issues like vaccine development, community surveillance, and funding strategies.

WAHO reiterated that no single country can tackle Lassa fever on its own and urged nations to collaborate by sharing data, resources, and expertise for a more coordinated and effective response.

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