The Second ECOWAS Lassa Fever International Conference (#ELFIC2025) has ended in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, with strong commitments to accelerate vaccine development, expand access to diagnostics, strengthen cross-border surveillance, and embed community resilience in the fight against one of West Africa’s most persistent epidemic threats.
Regional cooperation and data sharing at the core
Participants agreed that data sharing, joint outbreak investigations, and regional coordination are essential to curb the spread of the virus across porous borders, while urging governments and development partners to treat Lassa fever as a matter of health security and economic stability.
The conference also reaffirmed the urgency of the Lassa Fever Control Agenda, which sets out clear priorities: to advance the development and rollout of a licensed vaccine, to increase access to diagnostics and treatments, and to support communities in adopting preventive measures such as safe food storage to minimize rodent exposure.
With these commitments, ECOWAS has positioned itself at the forefront of global epidemic preparedness.
The human and economic toll of lassa fever
The human and economic cost of Lassa fever was laid bare during the four-day discussions.
Experts highlighted that the disease continues to claim more than 5,000 lives annually across the region, with the economic burden estimated at 110 million dollars in lost productivity and more than 50 million dollars in treatment costs each year.
These figures, according to health officials, should be a wake-up call for urgent and coordinated action to strengthen surveillance, ensure rapid detection, and secure sustainable financing for long-term epidemic preparedness.
Ministerial roundtable signals regional unity
Ahead of the official opening, Health Ministers of ECOWAS Member States convened in a high-level roundtable on vaccine readiness and issued a joint communiqué that marked a turning point for regional solidarity.
In their declaration, the Ministers pledged to advance the development and equitable access to Lassa fever vaccines for populations most at risk.
They also committed to strengthen regional collaboration in surveillance, research, and outbreak response, while mobilising sustainable financing and political will to support long-term preparedness.
Describing the significance of the moment, Dr Abdourahmane Diallo, Director of Programme Management at the WHO Regional Office for Africa, observed that the joint pledge reflected a strategic moment for regional leadership, stressing that the collective commitment to vaccine development, preparedness, and response would be critical for elevating public health in West Africa.
Delegates Converge to Share Knowledge and Research
Over the course of the conference, which brought together 851 delegates from 32 countries, including 13 African states outside of ECOWAS and 44 representatives from outside the continent, discussions were organised across six thematic pillars: regional coordination, advancing medical countermeasures, surveillance and early detection, technological innovations, community engagement, and sustainable financing.
Out of 419 abstracts received, 302 were selected for presentation, with 140 delivered as oral presentations and 132 as posters.
There were also 20 panel sessions and 20 organised sessions, reflecting the depth of research and innovation directed toward Lassa fever and epidemic control.
Building trust in health innovations
The sessions underscored the importance of building trust in health innovations.
Media, academia, policymakers and civil society organisations were highlighted as critical actors in bridging gaps and addressing vaccine hesitancy, an issue that remains a serious obstacle to epidemic control across the region.
Nigeria’s Minister of Health emphasized the need for African-led solutions, noting that research, vaccine development, and epidemic response must be firmly rooted in the realities of the region if they are to succeed.
Community interventions were also discussed extensively, with experts urging households to adopt safer food storage practices to reduce exposure to rodents, which are the primary vector for Lassa fever transmission.
International partners stress science and political will
International partners stressed the importance of aligning scientific breakthroughs with political will.
Representatives from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) noted that Lassa fever knows no borders and can only be addressed through regional solidarity.
CEPI confirmed that it is currently supporting three vaccine candidates and has invested in building critical capacity across West Africa.
While progress has been made, CEPI cautioned that developing a safe and effective vaccine will take time, and success will depend on governments maintaining political commitment and sustained investment.
WAHO DG’s stirring call for collective mobilization
At the closing ceremony on September 11, 2025, the Director General of the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), Dr Melchior Athanase J. C. Aïssi, delivered a stirring call to action.
Applauding the quality of the scientific evidence presented during the conference, he noted that detection, control, and mitigation of the disease had advanced significantly but warned that no single country can defeat Lassa fever alone.
He emphasized the need for collective mobilization across the region and reminded delegates that the strength of the fight lies in solidarity.
Investing in resilient health systems
Dr Aïssi stressed the importance of building resilient health systems and forging stronger sectoral alliances that would ensure preparedness not just for Lassa fever, but for future epidemics that may threaten the region.
He called for increased investment in science, arguing that effective research and innovation remain the only way to relegate recurring outbreaks to the past.
“Our commitment today goes beyond developing a vaccine against Lassa fever,” he declared. “It is about building robust health systems capable of protecting West Africa against all present and future epidemic threats. Together, we have the opportunity to write a new chapter in public health in our region.”
From discussion to action
He further commended the conference for strengthening collective mobilisation and shifting the narrative from talk to action.
Expressing optimism about the strides made in research, preparedness, and epidemic response, he assured participants that WAHO was committed to following up on the implementation of the recommendations for the benefit of citizens.
In his words, “This conference has demonstrated the power of regional solidarity. Together, we are moving from discussion to action, building a united West Africa ready to confront Lassa fever and future epidemics.”
A message of gratitude
In closing, Dr Aïssi expressed deep gratitude to all 851 delegates, researchers, health professionals, policymakers, and partners for their contributions and commitment.
His remarks captured the spirit of the gathering: a recognition that while the challenges are formidable, regional solidarity, science, and sustained investment can chart a new path toward epidemic preparedness and resilience.
Transforming public health for future generations
As #ELFIC2025 drew to an end, one message resonated across the halls of Abidjan: the fight against Lassa fever is not only about preventing the next outbreak, but also about transforming public health in West Africa for generations to come.
