The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has revealed that a clinical study for Lassa fever vaccine is being planned in the country. NCDC Director-General Ifedayo Adetifa made the announcement on Tuesday, May 2.
Speaking at a Lassa fever research colloquium and workshop organized by the NCDC in collaboration with University College London and the Johns Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics, Adetifa stated that the first phase of clinical trials, which are human trials to establish safety, would be held in Ghana, with later stages focusing on immunity and efficacy, among other things, taking place in Nigeria.
Among the trial locations are Lassa fever centers in Irrua, Edo state, Owo, Ondo state, and Abakaliki, Ebonyi state.
The goal of the colloquium, according to Adetifa, was to promote collective efforts to combat Lassa fever by sharing new ideas, research findings, and best practices relating to Lassa fever epidemiology, case management, prevention and control, and molecular studies.
He stated;
“Additionally, we hope to identify national Lassa fever research priorities to guide the development of the next 5-year Lassa fever research agenda for Nigeria.”
As of April 23, there were 4,908 suspected cases, 897 confirmed cases, and 154 deaths reported across 26 states.
