Nigeria's Centre for Disease Control Calls for Stronger ECOWAS Health Pact to Combat Lassa Fever and Emerging Diseases

Nigeria's Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has urged a stronger regional health commitment to address the spread of Lassa fever and other infectious diseases in the West African region. At the 2nd Lassa Fever International Conference, convened by the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), NCDC Director-General Dr Jide Idris called for better data sharing, joint preparedness, and pooled resources across ECOWAS member states. The conference aimed to strengthen regional cooperation and collective action against viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHFs). Idris emphasized the importance of community engagement, citing lessons from Nigeria's experiences with Ebola, COVID-19, and Lassa fever outbreaks, where human factors like trust, culture, and behavior significantly contributed to outbreak escalation.

Key Takeaways:

• The NCDC called for an ECOWAS health pact to address Lassa fever and other emerging infectious diseases threatening the region.
• Dr Jide Idris, Director-General of the NCDC, emphasized the importance of cross-border surveillance and coordinated response mechanisms to tackle Lassa fever.
• The conference aimed to reaffirm regional commitment, mobilise political will, and drive collective action against viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHFs).
• Community engagement is critical in epidemic preparedness, and outbreaks often escalate due to human factors such as trust, culture, and behavior.
• The NCDC urged member states to support research and development for vaccines and diagnostics, invest in One Health approaches linking human, animal, and environmental health, and provide dedicated funding for community-led preparedness initiatives.
• The conference seeks to reduce mortality and prevent large-scale transmission of Lassa fever and other VHFs by promoting early detection, risk communication, and culturally sensitive interventions.
• West African countries affected by Lassa fever tout thousands of deaths annually.
• Idris shared lessons from Nigeria's experience with Ebola, COVID-19, and Lassa fever outbreaks, where communities were not the 'last mile' but the first line of defence in epidemic response.

Statistics:

• The region of West Africa is experiencing thousands of deaths annually from Lassa fever.
• The 2nd Lassa Fever International Conference, convened by WAHO, aims to strengthen regional cooperation and collective action against viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHFs).
• The conference will provide a platform for health ministers, scientists, and development partners to chart new strategies to address Lassa fever.

Sources:

• News Agency of Nigeria (2025) Nigeria's Centre for Disease Control calls for stronger ECOWAS health pact to combat Lassa fever, other emerging diseases.
• West African Health Organisation (2025) 2nd Lassa Fever International Conference: 'Beyond Borders: Strengthening Regional Cooperation to Combat Lassa Fever and Emerging Infectious Diseases'