While the world focuses on emerging viruses, Lassa fever is quietly spreading across West Africa, with up to 300,000 infections and 5,000 deaths annually. Spread through contact with infected rodents or bodily fluids, it’s deadly, often misdiagnosed, and lacks a licensed vaccine.
With climate change, urbanization, and limited healthcare access, Lassa could easily jump borders and fast.
Let’s discuss
Should Lassa vaccine development be a global priority?
Could lessons from COVID-19 help us prepare for this?
Yes—Lassa fever vaccine development should be a global priority. It’s deadly, underdiagnosed, and spreading in vulnerable regions. With no licensed vaccine and rising risks from climate change and travel, investing now protects both local and global health.
Yes, Lassa vaccine development should be a global priority because it can save lives, especially in West Africa where outbreaks are common. Lessons from COVID-19, like fast vaccine development, global collaboration, and early surveillance, can definitely help us prepare better and act quickly.
Lassa fever is proving to be a fast-growing problem that could potentially develop an endemic or epidemic status as time passes. Global action is necessary to smite the issue before it spreads.
Yes, Lassa fever is truly a serious threat that most people are not aware of. Even though it’s been around for years, there’s still no proper vaccine. That’s really worrying. With so many people affected every year, I think it’s high time this issue gets more attention globally. We shouldn’t wait for it to spread beyond control. Lessons from COVID have shown us that early action and awareness can save lives.