Conference Abstract | Volume 8, Abstract ELIC2025314 (Poster 004) | Published: 11 Aug 2025
Danny Asogun1, Joseph Okoeguale2,&, Reuben Eifediyi1, Stephan Guenther3, Ekaete Tobin1
1Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Edo State, Nigeria/Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria,2Institute of Viral and Emergent Pathogens Control and Research, ISTH, Edo State, Nigeria, 3Virology Dept., Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
&Corresponding author: Okoeguale Joseph, Institute of Viral and Emergent Pathogens, Control and Research, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria, Email: okoegualejoseph85@gmail.com
Received: 31 May 2025, Accepted: 09 Jul 2025, Published: 11 Aug 2025
Domain: Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Keywords: Lassa fever, Partnership, Regional control, Institute
©Danny Asogun et al. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (ISSN: 2664-2824). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Cite this article: Danny Asogun et al., The Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control: An indigenous interventional initiative in Lassa fever control. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2025;8(ConfProc5):00148. https://doi.org/10.37432/JIEPH-CONFPRO5-00148
Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic illness, is endemic to West Africa. Initially characterized by seasonal outbreaks, the disease has evolved into a year- round leading to nosocomial outbreaks, deaths among health workers, increase maternal mortality and significant impact on public health. This impact necessitated a pragmatic intervention effort.
The Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control (ILFRC) recently renamed Institute of Viral and Emergent Pathogens Research and Control (IVEP) was established in 2007 at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) in Nigeria as an indigenous initiative. The institute focuses on surveillance, early lab diagnosis, case management, research, staff training, community outreach and education to mitigate the impact of Lassa fever. The institute has become a regional hub for capacity building in molecular diagnostics, case management and recently clinical trials.
The advent of the institute has led to a reduction in the mortality from Lassa fever cases admitted at ISTH from 60% in the nineties to less than 10% in recent years. Long term partnership of over 15 years with WHO collaborating centres such as the Bernhard Notch Institute For Tropical medicine, Hamburg has been developed. In 2019, the Institute in collaboration with partners trained 15 laboratory personnel from 7 West African countries including DRC. Presently, the Institute supports the CEPI Enable Lassa fever program. Furthermore, clinical trials geared towards the development of Lassa fever vaccine and novel therapeutics are dependent on the existing capacity in the institute. Upcoming projects include combating a range of viral diseases, thereby strengthening global health security.
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