Preventive vaccination could be a key strategy against Lassa fever and the next pandemic

Researchers at the University of Liverpool and the University of Oxford have for the first time been able to estimate the current burden of Lassa fever, project the impacts of a Lassa fever vaccination programme and demonstrate how it may help avoid the next pandemic. The study is published in Nature Medicine and has been funded by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Interventions (CEPI). Lassa fever is an emerging viral illness caused by the Lassa virus that is currently endemic in many countries in West Africa, meaning that the majority of cases only occur within these areas. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concerns that due to a current lack of effective vaccines and treatments the next pandemic could be caused by a Lassa-related virus. The researchers estimated the current health and economic burden of Lassa fever throughout West Africa and looked at the potential impact of six different vaccination...