The Economic Community of West African States’ Lassa Fever International Conference began on Monday in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

The four-day conference is organised by the West Africa Health Organisation.

Building on the first Lassa International Conference held in Abuja in 2019, this second edition will feature plenary sessions, panels, workshops, and research presentations.

It will also contribute to a regional roadmap focused on improving access to diagnostics, vaccines, and coordinated disease control efforts.

The LIC 2025 seeks to drive multi-sectoral collaboration and promote long-term solutions for Lassa fever and broader health security challenges.

The conference brings together regional and global stakeholders to advance research, enhance preparedness, and strengthen outbreak response across West Africa.

The first conference held in Abuja in 2019 marked fifty years since the Lassa fever virus was first isolated in a town in Nigeria.

The opportunity created by the ‘anniversary’ of the discovery of the virus is being used to bring researchers and practitioners from across the world together to share and appraise global efforts towards the control of the Lassa fever virus disease.

Participants at that conference stressed the importance of integrating human, animal, and environmental health perspectives to develop a comprehensive strategy for combating Lassa fever, highlighting the interconnectedness of these factors.

There were strong calls for increased research into all aspects of Lassa fever, including new diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines, with the aim of enhancing prevention, response, and control activities.

Participants also called for enhanced surveillance systems and laboratory capacity to facilitate timely and accurate Lassa fever diagnosis, among other measures.

(NAN)