ABIDJAN — The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), through the West Africa Health Organisation (WAHO), on Monday launched the second Lassa Fever International Conference in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The four-day event, themed “Beyond Borders: Strengthening Regional Cooperation to Combat Lassa Fever and Emerging Infectious Diseases,” builds on the inaugural edition held in Abuja in 2019.
According to organisers, the conference will feature plenary sessions, panel discussions, workshops, and scientific presentations. It will also culminate in the development of a regional roadmap aimed at expanding access to diagnostics, vaccines, and coordinated disease-control strategies.
The 2025 edition seeks to promote multi-sectoral collaboration while advancing long-term solutions for Lassa fever and other public health security challenges across the region.
Delegates include researchers, policymakers, development partners, and global health stakeholders working to improve preparedness and strengthen outbreak response mechanisms in West Africa.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the maiden conference in Abuja coincided with the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the Lassa virus in Nigeria. That gathering emphasised the integration of human, animal, and environmental health approaches, reflecting the “One Health” framework for tackling the disease.
Participants at the first edition had called for stronger surveillance systems, improved laboratory capacity, and intensified research into diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines. This year’s conference is expected to further galvanise those efforts and provide actionable strategies to mitigate future outbreaks.
