Largest ever Lassa fever study expands to more countries in West Africa

The largest-ever study created and funded by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to provide a more accurate assessment of the incidence of Lassa fever infections, has launched in several more countries in West Africa.

CEPI is providing US$ 10.3 million in funding to partners in Benin, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone to participate in the epidemiological research programme Enable, which will enrol up to 23,000participants, including Nigeria, which began collecting participant data in December 2020.

The in country partners selected for the research are Fondation pour la Recherche Scientifique (FORS) in Benin, Phebe Hospital in partnership with the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) in Liberia.

Seven thousand participants have already been recruited into the Nigerian component of the Enable programme, led by the Nigeria Lassa fever Research Consortium consisting of the Nigeria Centre for  Disease Control (NCDC) and supporting partners.

As part of CEPI’s access commitments, data for both the Nigerian study and programmes announced today will be made available to partners and the public via peer-reviewed open-access publications and via CEPI’s hub on The Global Health Network.

Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Nigeria, said: “The Enable Lassa programme is building on collaboration among countries in West Africa most affected by Lassa fever to generate data and evidence that we urgently need for vaccine R&D.

“We are excited about the prospects of the project, not only in generating data for vaccine development, but also in strengthening our knowledge of the epidemiology of this disease and improving on the much needed interventions for disease control.”

First identified in 1969, Lassa fever is a potentially deadly haemorrhagic illness occurring across West Africa, with an estimated 1% of cases proving fatal. It is listed on the World Health Organization (WHO) R&D Blueprint as an emerging infectious disease in urgent need of research and development and is also recognised in CEPI’s ambitious $3.5bn plan to tackle future epidemics and pandemics caused by known and unknown threats.

However, our current knowledge on the annual Lassa case rate is hindered by a lack of formal and standard clinical diagnoses for the illness and significant variability and severity in symptoms, with the majority of patients who become infected thought to be asymptomatic and failing to seek diagnosis.

The Enable study therefore aims to better understand the rate, location, and spread of Lassa virus across the region. Data collected in the countries will highlight any differences in the age and gender of people who become infected, while also providing a more accurate overview on the proportion of asymptomatic and symptomatic cases.

In addition, results from Enable will be crucial in supporting CEPI’s goal, as part of its five-year Look ahead strategy, of producing a licenced Lassa vaccine for routine immunisation. As a leading funder of Lassa vaccine development, CEPI has already supported the development of six Lassa vaccine candidates.

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