Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire—Health ministers from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have pledged their support to advance the development and promotion of a Lassa fever vaccine. This commitment was made during the 2nd ECOWAS Lassa Fever International Conference in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness that poses a significant public health threat in West Africa, where it is endemic in countries such as Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.
The disease is caused by the Lassa virus, which is primarily transmitted to humans through contact with the urine or feces of infected multimammate rats (Mastomys natalensis).
Under the theme “Beyond Borders: Strengthening Regional Cooperation to combat Lassa and emerging Infectious Diseases”, the four-day conference began with an opening ceremony led by the Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire, Robert Beugré Mambé, followed by keynote addresses, high-level panels and technical workshops covering
Sessions were held on advances in vaccine and diagnostic development, Community engagement and preparedness strategies, Surveillance, outbreak response and cross-border collaboration and Policy frameworks for sustainable control and elimination.
The leaders include Prof. Benjamin Hounkpatin of the Republic of Benin, Dr. Jorge Figueiredo of the Republic of Cabo Verde, Pierre N’gou Dimba of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Republic of Ghana of the, Augusto Gomes of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, of the Republic of The Gambia, Dr. Louise Kpoto of the republic of Liberia, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Ibrahima Sy, of the Republic of Senegal, Dr. Austin Demby, of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Prof. Tchin Darré, of the Togolese Republic.
The conference brought together global experts, policymakers, and scientists to accelerate solutions for Lassa fever prevention, control, and preparedness. Ministers from across the region agreed that the disease poses a significant threat to regional health security and requires coordinated action.
At the Ministerial Roundtable on Accelerating Lassa Fever Vaccine Readiness, ministers from West African nations, along with partners from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), made several key commitments: Political Leadership: They reaffirmed their political commitment to addressing one of the region’s most pressing health security challenges.
Lassa fever causes an estimated 4,000 deaths annually and costs over USD $160 million in lost productivity and treatment. Projections suggest climate change could expand its risk, potentially threatening up to 700 million people.
The Ministers pledged to mobilize national, regional, and global resources through a collaborative co-funding approach, leveraging domestic financing as a key part of the funding strategy.
They also committed to strengthening national and regional platforms for vaccine trials, laboratories, and regulatory readiness to support late-stage vaccine development.
The ministers agreed that investments in Lassa vaccine readiness must contribute to broader epidemic and pandemic preparedness, aligning with the “100 Days Mission” initiative.
The meeting also provided a platform to outline the steps needed to build a complete vaccine research and development ecosystem in the region.
The ministers highlighted the key scientific, regulatory, and manufacturing milestones required for the licensure of the Lassa fever vaccine, noting that three other vaccines are also in clinical development.
They acknowledged the essential role of the Lassa Fever Coalition in coordinating these regional efforts.
While the overall case-fatality rate is estimated to be around 1%, it can rise to 15% or higher among hospitalized patients with severe cases.
According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Lassa fever affects an estimated 100,000 to 300,000 people annually in West Africa, with approximately 5,000 deaths. However, these figures may be underestimated due to challenges with surveillance and diagnosis.
The disease also carries a significant economic burden, with an estimated annual cost of over USD $160 million in lost productivity and treatment.
The incubation period for Lassa fever ranges from 2 to 21 days. Symptoms often begin gradually with a fever, general weakness, and malaise, followed by headache, sore throat, muscle pain, and chest pain.
In severe cases, patients can develop facial swelling, bleeding from the mouth, nose, or other orifices, and low blood pressure. A notable long-term complication is deafness, which affects about 25% of survivors and can be permanent.
Recognizing the urgent need for action, ECOWAS health leaders and partners are working to strengthen regional cooperation and combat Lassa fever. The West African Health Organization (WAHO) is a key player in this effort, coordinating research, surveillance, and response initiatives.
A major focus of these efforts is accelerating the development of a Lassa fever vaccine. The most advanced vaccine candidate, developed by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) with support from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), is currently in a Phase IIa clinical trial in Ghana, Liberia, and Nigeria.
This marks the most advanced study of a Lassa fever vaccine to date and is a critical step toward licensure and wider availability.
The recent Ministerial Roundtable in Abidjan highlighted the collective resolve of West African nations to mobilize resources, strengthen trial infrastructure, and ensure that investments in vaccine readiness contribute to broader pandemic preparedness.
