Nigeria: Are We There Yet? Leveraging the Private Sector for Lassa Vaccine R&D

[Nigeria Health Watch] The search for an effective vaccine against Lassa fever has gained momentum in recent years. Currently, early supportive care and the anti-viral drug Ribavirin are the primary methods of patient treatment. Lassa fever has long been a public health concern in Nigeria and parts of West Africa, since the disease was first identified in 1969. The disease remains a concern, as in October 2023, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Prevention recorded a total of 1095 confirmed cases with 188 deaths.