The roadmap was developed under the leadership of the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), with support from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), as part of efforts to strengthen epidemic preparedness and vaccine equity across the sub-region. West African countries have launched a regional framework aimed at ensuring equitable access to Lassa fever vaccines…
West Africa has today, 3rd February 2026, marked a major milestone in regional health security with the official launch of the Lassa Fever End-to-End (E2E) Access Roadmap for West Africa, a first-of-its-kind, regionally-led framework designed to ensure equitable access to safe and effective Lassa fever vaccines once they become available. The roadmap was developed with…
Lassa fever remains one of the most pressing public health threats in West Africa. According to the Africa CDC, the viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) infects between 100,000 and 300,000 people annually, with thousands of deaths recorded across the region. Nigeria and neighbouring countries bear the brunt of recurring outbreaks, with significant challenges in diagnostics, treatment,…
The 2nd ECOWAS Lassa Fever International Conference (#ELFIC 2025) concluded this Thursday 11 September 2025 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, after four days of high-level discussions, knowledge sharing, and strategic commitments. The gathering brought together more than 800 policymakers, scientists, health professionals, and development partners from across West Africa and beyond to confront one of the…
They warned that continued reliance on external donors threatens the continent’s epidemic preparedness Ahead of the ECOWAS Lassa Fever International Conference 2025 (ELFIC2025), regional health experts have urged African governments to adopt innovative financing models to boost research and vaccine development for Lassa Fever and other emerging diseases. They made the call at a preparatory…
In West Africa, Lassa fever remains a persistent and recurring health threat, causing hundreds of lives each year and underscoring urgent need for sustained investment in research and vaccine manufacturing capacity. In the first five months of 2025 alone, Nigeria reported over 717 confirmed cases and 138 deaths, highlighting the escalating risk and the critical…
