Between January and September 2025, four West African member states recorded 175 deaths from Lassa fever. The countries include Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.
Nigeria had the highest impact with 162 deaths and 871 confirmed cases, Liberia reported 6 deaths and 22 confirmed cases, Sierra Leone experienced 5 deaths with 9 confirmed cases, while Guinea had 2 confirmed cases, both resulting in death.
There were 7,343 suspected cases of Lassa fever, highlighting the ongoing impact of the disease and the necessity for robust preparedness and response systems.
Director General of the West African Health Organization (WAHO), Dr. Melchior Athanase Joël C. Aissi said that, in August 2025, the UNVEIL Initiative was launched to expedite the development of a Lassa fever vaccine, with the University of Texas Medical Branch’s Galveston National Laboratory receiving up to $6.4 million in funding from CEPI and Welcome to lead this international research effort.
“Over the coming years, UNVEIL will work with four frontline clinical sites in Nigeria and Sierra Leone; Jos University Teaching Hospital, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital (Bauchi), and Kenema Government Hospital to collect samples and build local capacity in diagnostics, biobanking, and clinical research,” he said.
Using machine learning models and large preclinical datasets, the team aims to identify immune markers of protection that can guide vaccine testing and regulatory approval.
Between 4 and 6 August 2025, WAHO participated in the 15th Best Practices Forum and the 31st Directors’ Joint Consultative Committee (DJCC) Meeting of the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) in Mauritius.
The event aimed to provide a strategic platform for regional health stakeholders to share lessons, promote collaboration, and strengthen inter-regional partnerships.
WAHO said it contributed significantly through Dr Aishat Bukola Usman’s presentation on the Lassa Fever Vaccine Coalition, highlighting its leadership in vaccine R&D for epidemic-prone diseases.
The presentation emphasised the importance of regional coordination in fostering innovation, enhancing local manufacturing, and ensuring equitable access to medical countermeasures.
WAHO also participated in a panel discussion on “The Role of Regional Health and Economic Communities (RECs) in Advancing Regional Coordination Mechanisms and Health Security in Africa.”
The panel included representatives from ECSA-HC, COMESA, the Commonwealth, and the GIZ Health Project.
WAHO is working on strengthening cross-border surveillance, supporting the implementation of the International Health Regulations, and enhancing regional preparedness through platforms like WARDSNet.
WAHO is also exploring joint programming and knowledge exchange with ECSA-HC, focusing on research and regulatory capacity, and considering co-authorship of regional position papers aligned with broader health security frameworks.
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