Jane Salihu
The push for a Nigerian-made vaccine against Lassa fever has gained fresh momentum after a landmark TETFund-funded study uncovered new insights into the disease’s transmission across North-Central Nigeria, prompting renewed calls for stronger research investment and targeted public health interventions.
Presented in Abuja by researchers from the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO), the Mega Research Project represents one of the country’s most comprehensive investigations into Lassa fever in recent years. Conducted between 2024 and 2025 with a ₦250 million TETFund Mega Research Grant, the study examined the seroprevalence, incidence, risk factors and transmission patterns of the disease across Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Kwara and the FCT.
Speaking after receiving the final report, Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Sonny Echono, challenged Nigerian scientists to chart the fastest path towards developing the country’s first indigenous Lassa fever vaccine.
Describing Lassa fever as one of Nigeria’s most persistent public health threats, Echono said vaccine development remains the most sustainable solution to reducing infections and deaths.
He assured that the research findings would be forwarded to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the Federal Ministry of Health to support policy decisions and strengthen the case for establishing a vaccine development centre in the country.
Presenting the findings, Principal Investigator, Joseph Okopi, said the study confirmed sustained community transmission of Lassa fever in Benue State and identified the state as an emerging hotspot requiring intensified surveillance, particularly because of its large population of internally displaced persons.
The research also found that rodents other than the traditionally implicated Mastomys species, particularly Rattus rattus, can harbour the Lassa virus, suggesting that existing control strategies should be broadened.
According to the researchers, early diagnosis remains critical to reducing fatalities, while expanded surveillance, genomic studies and rapid point-of-care diagnostic tools are essential for improving Nigeria’s response to the disease.
The team called for the establishment of a National Lassa Virus Research Network and urged the Federal Government to designate FUHSO as a National Centre of Excellence for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases.
Vice-Chancellor of the university, Francis Aba Uba, said the grant had enabled the university to strengthen laboratory infrastructure, train young scientists and generate evidence capable of shaping public health policy and improving disease management.
He noted that while Benue recorded a lower case fatality rate than Kogi during the study period, the findings reaffirm that Lassa fever remains a major public health challenge requiring sustained investment in research, surveillance and innovation.
The researchers maintained that Nigeria continues to bear one of the world’s highest burdens of Lassa fever, with thousands of infections and deaths recorded annually, making the search for homegrown scientific solutions more urgent than ever.
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