the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)they are organizing a workshop in the country for scientists from the entire West African sub-region.
The workshop will discuss the progress of the research known as the “Enable Lassa Research Program”, the largest study of Lassa fever ever conducted in the sub-region.
doctor Ifedayyo AdetifaManaging Director, NCDChe said this in an interview with the Nigerian News Agency on Saturday in Abuja.
Adetifa said the 3-day workshop brought together experts from Nigeria, Benin, Guinea, Liberia Y Sierra Leoneall the countries affected by Lassa fever to share progress, challenges and ideas from their work.
He said, “this was created and financed by CEPI.
The Enable program aims to provide a more detailed description of the epidemiology of Lassa fever in the region.
Adetifa said the agency was leading the Nigerian component of the study, while the project was also being carried out in Benin, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
“Lassa fever is usually transmitted to humans through infected rodents, and severe cases can lead to hemorrhagic fever associated with a high risk of death.
“It is recognized by World Health Organization (WHO)as a disease with epidemic potential.
“There are currently no Lassa fever vaccines approved for human use,” he explained.
YAYA The research was launched in 2020, while Enable aims to provide a better understanding of the true burden of Lassa disease in West Africa.
There are regular outbreaks of the disease in the subregion and the program guides the development of vaccines against the epidemic threat.
The Enable program has been created and funded by CEPI, which has established itself as one of the world’s largest funders of Lassa fever research.
First identified more than fifty years ago, Lassa fever is usually transmitted when a person comes into contact with the bodily fluids of the infected rodent species, Mastomys natalensis, also known as the multimammalian Natal rat or mouse.
You can also get the same disease from food and other materials contaminated by your urine, feces, and saliva.
News sourceCredit: NAN
