An ecologist extracts a sample of blood from a Mastomys Natalensis rodent in the village of Jormu in southeastern Sierra Leone February 8, 2011. Lassa fever, named after the Nigerian town where it was first identified in 1969, is among a U.S. list of "category A" diseases -- deemed to have the potential for major public health impact -- alongside anthrax and botulism. The disease is carried by the Mastomys Natalensis rodent, found across sub-Saharan Africa and often eaten as a source of protein. It infects an estimated 300,000-500,000 people each year, and kills about 5,000. Picture taken February 8, 2011. To match Reuters-Feature BIOTERROR-AFRICA/ REUTERS/Simon Akam (SIERRA LEONE - Tags: HEALTH SOCIETY ANIMALS) - GM1E72F07HC01
October 22, 2022
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control & Prevention (NCDC) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), are hosting a workshop in the country for scientists from across the West Africa sub-region.
The workshop is to discuss the progress of research known as “the Enable Lassa Research Programme”, the largest ever Lassa fever study size from the sub-region.
Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, Director-General, NCDC, said this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), on Saturday in Abuja.
Adetifa said that the 3-day workshop brought together experts from Nigeria, Benin, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, all countries affected by Lassa fever to share progress, challenges and insights from their works.
He said, “this was set up and funded by CEPI Enable programme which aims to provide a more detailed description of the epidemiology of Lassa fever in the region.”
“Lassa fever is typically spread to humans by infected rodents, with severe cases potentially resulting in a hemorrhagic fever associated with a high risk of death.
“It is recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO), as a disease with epidemic potential.
“There are no vaccines for Lassa fever currently approved for human use, “ he explained.
The research was launched in 2020, while Enable aims to provide a better understanding of the true Lassa disease burden across West Africa.
There are regular outbreaks of the disease in the sub-region and the programme guides the development of vaccines against the epidemic threat.
The Enable programme has been set up and funded by CEPI, which is established as one of the largest global funders of Lassa fever research. (NAN)
