By Kemo Cham
The second edition of the Lassa Fever International Conference 2025 will be held earlier than initially planned, according to new dates announced by the West African Health Organisation (WAHO).
Initially slated for September 22–26, the new dates are now from September 8–12, 2025, according to a press release from WAHO, which is the specialised health agency of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The Lassa Fever International Conference convenes health experts, policymakers, researchers, and media professionals from across West Africa and beyond to advance collaboration on Lassa fever research, surveillance, response, and policy innovation. Participants share the latest scientific evidence, explore innovative approaches, and reinforce collaborative efforts to strengthen preparedness, efforts and inform strategies for managing emerging infectious disease threats.
The first edition of the conference was convened in Abuja, Nigeria in 2019. WAHO says the second edition aims to build on the momentum of the inaugural event.
This edition is being held on the theme: “Beyond Borders: Strengthening Regional Cooperation to Combat Lassa Fever and Emerging Infectious Diseases.”
It comes as Africa battles the ongoing Mpox epidemic, with some ECOWAS member states being among the most affected.
WAHO organizes the Lassa Fever Conference in partnership with key regional and global health stakeholders. It says the revised dates were carefully selected to enable broader and more effective participation from regional and global stakeholders, as well as its member countries most affected by Lassa Fever, including Sierra Leone, to participate.
“With the revised timeline, this offers a strategic opportunity to better align with the global health calendar, ensuring the active participation of high-level stakeholders and ensuring regional representation, particularly from the five most-affected countries, Benin, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone,” the agency said in its statement.
It also said that the new date was meant to avoid overlaps with other major global health events traditionally held in September, thereby creating opportunities for deeper engagement with policymakers, researchers and technical partners.
The WAHO statement goes on to say that the adjustment highlights its commitment to ensuring inclusive collaboration and driving scientific exchange, in addition to driving a coordinated regional response to Lassa fever and other emerging infectious diseases.
“The decision to shift the dates of the Lassa Fever International Conference was made to ensure that we create the most inclusive and impactful platform possible,” said Dr. Melchior Athanase AÏSSI, Director General of WAHO.
“This new schedule allows us to welcome a broader range of experts, policymakers, and partners at a time when regional collaboration and knowledge-sharing are more critical than ever. Our goal is to make this a turning point in the fight against Lassa fever and the broader challenge of controlling emerging diseases in West Africa,” he added.
Established in 1987, WAHO is charged with coordinating health policy and programming across Member States. With headquarters in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, the organization is committed to improving regional health standards, strengthening health systems, and fostering sustainable health development in member ECOWAS states.
The agency is calling on researchers, public health professionals, academic institutions, civil society organisations and government officials to actively engage in the event.
