By Peter Omopo
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Monday opened its four-day Lassa Fever International Conference in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, with a focus on strengthening regional cooperation against the deadly disease and other emerging health threats.
Organised by the West Africa Health Organisation (WAHO), the conference is themed “Beyond Borders: Strengthening Regional Cooperation to Combat Lassa Fever and Emerging Infectious Diseases.”
Building on the maiden edition held in Abuja in 2019, this year’s gathering brings together regional leaders, health experts, researchers, and international partners for plenary sessions, workshops, and research presentations. The aim is to create a roadmap that improves access to diagnostics, vaccines, and coordinated disease control efforts across West Africa.
According to organisers, the 2025 edition seeks to deepen multi-sectoral collaboration and promote long-term solutions for health security in the region.
Lassa fever, first identified in Nigeria in 1969, remains a recurring public health challenge in West Africa. At the 2019 conference, participants emphasised the need to integrate human, animal, and environmental health perspectives for effective prevention and control. Experts also called for stronger surveillance systems, enhanced laboratory capacity, and intensified research into vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics.
The Abidjan conference is expected to build on those commitments and chart a stronger regional response to outbreaks, while also positioning West Africa as a hub for global Lassa fever research
