Abuja: The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sonny Echono, has called on Nigerian scientists to expedite the development of the country’s first Lassa fever vaccine. Echono made this appeal during a presentation of the outcomes from a TETFund-sponsored Mega Research Project on Lassa fever at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Echono emphasized the recurring nature of Lassa fever as a significant public health issue that requires immediate scientific intervention. He highlighted the necessity for Nigeria to transition from research to practical solutions that would directly benefit the populace. Echono urged researchers to prioritize vaccine development, noting that vaccination is the most effective method of controlling infectious diseases. He questioned how scientists could find the shortest route to vaccine development to lessen the disease’s burden on Nigerians, who suffer thousands of deaths from Lassa fever annually.
Echono promised that TETFund would collaborate with relevant government agencies to translate the research findings into national health interventions. He mentioned plans to present the findings to authorities such as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Federal Ministry of Health. If validated, these findings could support the establishment of a vaccine development center in Nigeria. Echono praised the researchers for their work, which has the potential to improve healthcare delivery in the country.
Vice-Chancellor of the university, Francis Uba, described the project as one of the institution’s most significant research undertakings. He noted that TETFund awarded the university a N250 million Mega Research Grant four years ago to investigate Lassa fever. Uba stated that the project had provided valuable scientific insights into the disease’s epidemiology, diagnosis, management, and control, while also enhancing the university’s research infrastructure and laboratory capabilities. He urged TETFund and the Federal Government to designate the institution as a National Centre of Excellence in Infectious Diseases Research.
Principal Investigator Joseph Okopi reported that Nigeria carries the highest global burden of Lassa fever, with annual deaths ranging from 5,000 to 10,000. The TETFund-funded study, the largest multi-state population surveillance on Lassa fever conducted in Nigeria, examined antibody prevalence, identified rodent vectors, and assessed transmission patterns and risk factors associated with the disease. Okopi noted that Benue had the highest prevalence of Lassa fever antibodies among the surveyed states, with adults aged 20 to 40 years most exposed due to farming and other outdoor activities.
The study identified poor housing conditions, rodent infestation, food contamination, and inadequate home maintenance as major environmental risk factors for infection. Interestingly, the study found that rodent consumption was not an independent predictor of Lassa fever infection, contrary to popular belief.
Prof. Audu Onyemocho, who presented the clinical findings, stated that 1,266 participants were enrolled in the study, and 392 suspected cases were investigated in Benue and Kogi states. Among these, 43 cases were confirmed via Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests, with Benue recording 25 cases and Kogi 18. Onyemocho identified bleeding, older age, and seizures as the strongest predictors of mortality among confirmed patients.
In discussing future research priorities, Prof. John Idoko, former director of NEMA and current advisor to the research team, reiterated that vaccine development remains the ultimate goal.