Renowned virologist, Professor Oyewale Tomori, has urged governments across West Africa to move beyond rhetoric and adopt decisive measures in order to curb the spread of Lassa fever, a viral haemorrhagic illness that continues to afflict the region.
Delivering the keynote address at the 2nd International Lassa Fever Conference on Monday in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Prof. Tomori — a former president of the Nigerian Academy of Science — noted that while progress has been recorded since the inaugural conference in 2019, many of the critical challenges identified at that time remain unresolved.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that this year’s conference is themed “Beyond Borders: Strengthening Regional Cooperation to Combat Lassa Fever and Emerging Infectious Diseases.”
The 2nd International Lassa Fever Conference, currently underway in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, is focused on reaffirming regional commitment, mobilizing political will, and driving collective action against Lassa fever and other emerging infectious diseases.
In his keynote address, eminent virologist and former president of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, lamented that despite decades of research and interventions, Lassa fever continues to afflict an estimated 100,000 to 300,000 people annually, with about 5,000 deaths — predominantly in West Africa.
“ECOWAS must match words with action. Without genuine political will and government ownership, we will continue to recycle the same promises and hold meetings without meaningful action,” he warned.
Prof. Tomori highlighted key achievements since the 2019 conference, including the establishment of five laboratories capable of testing epidemic-prone diseases and performing genomic sequencing, the expansion of field epidemiology training programs, and the deployment of community-level surveillance platforms across ministries.
Nonetheless, he underscored persisting gaps: the absence of a licensed vaccine, inequitable access to diagnostics, overreliance on donor funding, weak cross-border coordination, and the stigma that discourages patients from seeking timely care.
He called on ECOWAS member states to increase domestic investment, strengthen regional surveillance systems, accelerate vaccine research, and prioritize community-led interventions. “The 2025 conference is a wake-up call for us to take bold and coordinated steps. We cannot continue to rely on donors while our people remain at risk of repeated outbreaks,” he cautioned.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the four-day conference is being convened by the West African Health Organization in collaboration with the Nigerian Ministry of Health and the Ivorian Ministry of Health, bringing together scientists, policymakers, and development partners to assess progress and chart a way forward in combating Lassa fever.#newsafro_
