West African ministers of health have agreed on a joint action to advance the development and readiness of vaccines against Lassa fever.

The disease is endemic to the region and is responsible for thousands of deaths annually.

The pledge, endorsed at the 2nd Lassa Fever International Conference on Monday in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, was convened by the West African Health Organisation (WAHO).

It was co-led by Nigeria’s coordinating minister of health and social welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, and Côte d’Ivoire’s minister of health, Public Hygiene and Universal Health Coverage, Pierre N’Gou Dimba.

The conference has the theme “Beyond Borders: Strengthening Regional Cooperation to Combat Lassa Fever and Emerging Infectious Diseases”.

It seeks to reaffirm regional commitment, mobilise political will, and drive collective action against Lassa fever and other emerging infectious diseases.

The ministers reaffirmed their political commitment to make Lassa fever vaccine readiness a strategic health priority.

They pledged to co-finance vaccine development, strengthen laboratory and clinical trial capacity, and enhance regulatory and community engagement systems across the region to support late-stage research.

In spite of decades of outbreaks, there is still no licensed vaccine against Lassa fever.

The most advanced vaccine candidate is currently undergoing Phase IIa clinical trials in Ghana, Liberia, and Nigeria.

It was developed by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) with funding from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and partners,

Mr Pate said that the agreement represented a turning point for African-led solutions.

“For decades, Lassa fever has silently taken lives and tested our health systems.

“Here in Abidjan, West Africa is showing a new path: countries uniting not only to call for a vaccine, but to co-finance and prepare the systems that will make it real,” he said.

Melchior Aissi, director-general of WAHO, described the commitment as a landmark step.

“ECOWAS Ministers have agreed not just to endorse a vaccine, but to co-finance it together; showing that West Africa is ready to lead on solutions to Lassa fever and pandemic threats.”

Global partners, including CEPI and IAVI, pledged continued technical and financial support to accelerate progress.

Lassa fever is estimated to affect hundreds of thousands of people in West Africa annually, causing nearly 4,000 deaths and US$110 million in productivity losses.

Without urgent action, modelling suggests that up to 600 million people could be at risk of infection by 2050 due to climate change and population growth.

(NAN)