Lassa fever in focus: experts from Nigeria and Germany meet!

Lassa fever in focus: experts from Nigeria and Germany meet!

At a time when health is at the forefront, a workshop on zoonoses prevention at the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) on the island of Riems, Vorpommern-Greifswald district, has attracted the attention of the health and scientific community. On July 9, 2025, 24 experts from Nigeria and Germany gathered to discuss Lassa fever, a disease that is widespread in Nigeria. The aim of the meeting was to develop measures to combat Lassa fever at the interface between animals, humans and the environment. This collaboration brought together various institutions, including the Nigerian Center for Disease Control (NCDC), the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), the University of Ibadan (UI) and the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). [NDR].

But what exactly makes this condition so worrying? Lassa fever is a zoonosis, a disease that can be transmitted from animals to people. Emergency response is often hampered by weak coordination, according to a comprehensive report on Nigeria's 2019 outbreak. An Incident Management System (IMS) operating in the context of a One Health approach could significantly improve the response to such outbreaks. In fact, 5,057 people were tested for Lassa fever in Nigeria in 2019, with 833 of them confirmed as positive cases. This highlights the need for targeted and structured coordination during disease outbreaks PMC.

One Health: A holistic approach

But what is the One Health approach? This strategy views human, animal and environmental health as an interdependent system. The approach has become increasingly important since the 2000s as it was recognized that zoonotic diseases pose a serious health risk. The One Health approach promotes collaboration across disciplines and integrates key areas such as food safety and zoonoses control. Historically, Hippocrates recognized the relationship between the environment and health, while the term zoonosis was coined by Rudolf Virchow in the 19th century. Today, this approach is recognized internationally as the key to improving public health and is increasingly being used in practice, for example in agriculture. Many organizations, including the WHO, support the implementation of this strategy to sustainably minimize health risks CEVA.

The results of the workshop on the island of Riems illustrate the importance of intensifying the measures listed and promoting cooperation. The experts agree that only a coordinated approach across all sectors can effectively combat zoonoses such as Lassa fever. With a good hand and a clear focus on the transmission chains between humans, animals and the environment, it could be possible to successfully contain the spread of such diseases in the future and raise awareness of this issue.