New findings from the largest-ever study of Lassa fever disease burden are expected to shape vaccine research, outbreak preparedness and community engagement across West Africa, as health authorities and research partners move to address critical gaps in understanding the disease.
The findings from the ENABLE Lassa Programme, recently published in The Lancet Global Health, are expected to inform the next phase of vaccine development and regional strategies for tackling the disease, which remains a persistent public health threat across the sub-region.
The West African Health Organisation (WAHO), in collaboration with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and other partners, will host a virtual webinar on Tuesday, October 13, to examine the implications of the research for vaccine development and outbreak preparedness.
The webinar, themed “Turning ENABLE Evidence into Stronger Lassa Vaccine Research and Outbreak Preparedness Across West Africa,” will hold from noon to 1:30 p.m. West African Time, ahead of a regional dissemination and engagement summit scheduled to take place in Nigeria later this month.
According to the organisers, the discussions will focus on the disease burden in communities studied, the implications for vaccine research, and the need to address evidence gaps affecting children and other populations historically underrepresented in Lassa fever research.
Lassa fever remains endemic in parts of West Africa, including Nigeria, where recurrent outbreaks place pressure on public health systems and healthcare workers. Historical estimates cited by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that between 100,000 and 300,000 Lassa virus infections and about 5,000 associated deaths occur annually across the region, although the actual burden remains uncertain.
More than five decades after the disease was first identified, no vaccine has been licensed against Lassa fever, making improved epidemiological evidence and sustained investment in vaccine research critical to regional health security.
The ENABLE programme was established to investigate the disease burden and strengthen the evidence required to guide research, public health planning and the potential future introduction of a vaccine.
The latest findings have provided important insights into the burden of Lassa fever in the hotspots studied, while highlighting persistent gaps in knowledge, particularly concerning children and other populations whose experiences have received limited attention in previous research.
The programme has also strengthened epidemiological and laboratory research capacity among institutions and investigators in West Africa, equipping local researchers to generate evidence that could support future vaccine development and regional epidemic preparedness.
Director of Epidemiology and Data Science at CEPI, Dr Gabrielle Breugelmans, said the findings represented a significant contribution to understanding Lassa fever but stressed the need to translate scientific evidence into practical action.
She said the webinar and the forthcoming regional summit would provide opportunities for researchers, policymakers, communities and vaccine developers to consider how the findings should influence future research and preparedness decisions.
WAHO Director-General, Prof. Palokinam Pitché, said the findings reinforced the importance of regional leadership and collaboration in advancing Lassa fever research.
Pitché, who assumed office on September 1, 2026, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to bringing countries and partners together to translate scientific evidence into coordinated action, strengthen regional health security and improve preparedness for future Lassa fever vaccines.
Beyond reviewing the research findings, the webinar will examine efforts to estimate future demand for a Lassa fever vaccine, an important step towards planning for its potential introduction and ensuring equitable access across the region.
WAHO and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), working with regional research partners and with support from CEPI, have advanced a vaccine demand forecasting exercise that was first presented at the second ECOWAS Lassa Fever International Conference in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, in September 2025.
The exercise is expected to contribute to planning around future vaccine needs and help stakeholders anticipate the requirements for introducing a vaccine when one becomes available.
Organisers also said community participation would be central to the discussions, noting that the trust and contributions of people who participated in the ENABLE study had been fundamental to generating the evidence now informing future research.
The webinar will therefore explore how meaningful engagement with affected communities can strengthen trust, encourage participation in research and guide vaccine development.
Speakers will include Breugelmans; Dr N’Faly Magassouba, Principal Investigator at Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry, Guinea; Dr Onyinyechukwu Uzoamaka Oka, Community Engagement Lead for the ENABLE study at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki; and Mrs Elsie Ilori, National Coordinator for the ENABLE Programme in Nigeria.
Pitché will also share his perspective on regional priorities for Lassa fever preparedness and the role of scientific evidence in strengthening health security.
The discussions are expected to identify outstanding research priorities, examine the implications of the findings for vaccine development and consider how epidemiological evidence, demand forecasting and community partnerships can support effective outbreak preparedness.
Interested participants, are advised to register for the virtual webinar at https://bit.ly/LassaQ3W.
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