By Kemo Cham
The second edition of the Lassa Fever International Conference (LIC) in West Africa has been set for September this year, the West African Health Organization (WAHO), which is convening it, has just announced.
Researchers, policy makers and healthcare professionals will converge in the Ivorian capital, Abidjan, from September 22 to 26 to deliberate on research gaps about the viral hemorrhagic fever disease that is endemic in West Africa.
Lassa Fever, a zoonotic disease, is spread by rodents. Its common symptoms include fever, weakness, headache and muscle pain.
Most people with Lassa Fever show mild symptoms. But the disease maybe severe and potentially fatal. Complications include hearty and kidney failure.
Lassa Fever is responsible for between 100,000 and 300,000 infections, with around 5,000 fatalities annually, according to data from WAHO.
Sierra Leone and its Mano River Union neighbours Liberia and Guinea, alongside Nigeria, are among countries most affected by the disease.
Despite being classified as a priority disease by the World Health Organization (WHO), Lassa Fever continues to ravage these countries, with outbreaks following a recurring pattern of temporary containment followed by fresh outbreaks. The conveners of this conference say this calls for the urgent need for sustainable preparedness that focuses not only on response but also on research, coordination, and stronger health systems.
The conference is being held on the theme: “Beyond Borders: Strengthening Regional Cooperation to Combat Lassa Fever and Emerging Infectious Diseases.”
Experts say the disease has exposed critical weaknesses in the region’s health systems since it was discovered in 1969. It is also said to becoming larger and more frequent as climate change and population growth in the region continue.
WAHO, the specialized health agency of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), says the conference aims to advance sustainable preparedness and regional coordination for Lassa fever through enhanced research and development (R&D) capacity, improved outbreak management systems, and multisectoral collaboration.
The agency is calling on researchers, policymakers, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders to join efforts in convening the conference which it hopes will contribute to strengthening regional health security against Lassa fever and other emerging infectious diseases.
“Lassa fever remains a persistent threat to our populations, severely impacting our lives, health, and economic systems,” Dr. Melchior Athanase AÏSSI, Director General of WAHO, is quoted in a press statement shared with ManoReporters.
“Recent predictions indicate that factors such as climate change could put up to 600 million people at risk of contracting Lassa fever. This projection underlines the need for increased vigilance and preparedness,” he added.
The Abidjan conference is expected to build on the foundation laid by the first edition hosted in Abuja by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control in 2019.
Established in 1987, WAHO is tasked with coordinating regional health initiatives across West Africa with the objective of harmoising health policies, pool resources, and foster collaboration among Member States.
The agency said in a press statement that this conference will provide a platform to foster regional coordination, share scientific progress, including promising Lassa vaccine candidates entering clinical trials, and shape a more sustainable and collaborative approach to the disease’s prevention and control across the region.
“No single country can address challenges posed by Lassa Fever and emerging infectious diseases alone, as globalisation, faster travel, and frequent cross-border movements have significantly increased the spread of infectious diseases across borders,” the statement notes, adding: “Countries can significantly improve their response speed and effectiveness by sharing data, resources, and expertise.”
The statement stresses that collaborative approach will reduce Lassa fever’s impact and enhance regional health security.
Dr Katrin Ramsauer, Lassa Disease Programme Lead at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), said while the world has made great progress in recent years in the fight against Lassa fever, this upcoming conference is an important moment for scientists and global health experts to both share new knowledge about the disease and spot the remaining research gaps where we need to act.
“Their discussions will help shape the Lassa Fever research agenda in years to come which is set to have a direct impact on our future response to Lassa fever outbreaks – now becoming larger and more frequent as climate change and population growth in the region continue,” she said in the statement.
The conference will feature diverse sessions, including plenary discussions led by regional and international health leaders and key partners to explore financing mechanisms, cross-border and multisectoral coordination, panel discussions on vaccine research, community surveillance, and parallel sessions that offer deep dives into operational research, and environmental topics.
It will also feature interactive workshops on outbreak communication and abstract presentations showcasing the latest scientific findings on Lassa fever.
This conference, according to the organizers, will also provide cross-country learning opportunities where experts will exchange insights from the management of other emerging infectious diseases, like MPOX, to inform more effective and sustainable approaches for Lassa fever prevention and control.
