The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Arch. Sonny Echono, has challenged Nigerian scientists to identify the fastest pathway towards developing the country’s first vaccine against Lassa fever, describing the disease as a major public health burden that requires urgent scientific intervention.

Echono made the call on Tuesday in Abuja during the presentation of the outcomes of the TETFund-sponsored Mega Research Project on Lassa fever conducted by the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO).

Reacting to the findings of the landmark study, the TETFund Executive Secretary said the research had reinforced the need for Nigeria to move beyond generating scientific evidence to developing practical solutions that would directly improve the lives of citizens.

He stressed that vaccination remains the most effective strategy for controlling infectious diseases and urged the research team to focus on translating their findings into vaccine development.

“What is the shortest route towards developing a vaccine? How can we ensure that the burden on our people is reduced? Every year, thousands of Nigerians die from Lassa fever. How can we reduce this burden?” Echono asked.

“I know a vaccine is usually the most effective mode of disease control. You vaccinate people and they become almost immune. What is the fastest path, and how can TETFund support that drive so that we can achieve direct benefits and direct impact on the lives of Nigerians?”

He assured the researchers of TETFund’s commitment to working with relevant government agencies, including the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the Federal Ministry of Health, to ensure that the research findings are translated into national health interventions.

According to him, successful validation of the findings would strengthen the case for establishing a vaccine development centre in Nigeria.

Echono commended the research team for producing findings capable of improving healthcare delivery and addressing one of Nigeria’s most persistent infectious diseases.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of FUHSO, Professor Francis Aba Uba, described the project as one of the institution’s most significant research achievements, recalling that about four years ago TETFund awarded the university a ₦250 million Mega Research Grant to investigate Lassa fever.

He said the investment reflected confidence in the capacity of Nigerian scientists to provide evidence-based solutions to critical national health challenges.

Professor Uba noted that the project had generated valuable scientific evidence on the epidemiology, diagnosis, management and control of Lassa fever while strengthening the university’s research infrastructure, laboratory capacity and collaborations.

He appealed to TETFund and the Federal Government to designate FUHSO as a National Centre of Excellence in Infectious Diseases Research to consolidate the gains of the project and strengthen Nigeria’s response to emerging infectious diseases.

Presenting the research findings, the Principal Investigator, Professor Joseph Okopi, disclosed that Nigeria remains the country with the highest burden of Lassa fever globally, with an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 deaths annually.

He explained that the TETFund-funded project represents the largest multi-state population surveillance study ever conducted on Lassa fever in Nigeria, investigating antibody prevalence, rodent vectors, transmission patterns and environmental risk factors.

Among the major findings, Benue State recorded the highest prevalence of Lassa fever antibodies among the five states surveyed, while adults aged between 20 and 40 years were found to have the highest exposure to the virus due to farming and other outdoor activities.

The study also identified poor housing conditions, rodent infestation, food contamination, leaking roofs and poorly fitted doors as major environmental risk factors associated with infection.

Professor Okopi further revealed that contrary to widespread belief, eating rodents was not found to be an independent predictor of Lassa fever infection.

Also presenting the clinical component of the research, Professor Audu Onyemocho disclosed that 1,266 participants were enrolled in the study, while 392 suspected Lassa fever cases were investigated across Benue and Kogi states.

According to him, 43 cases were confirmed through real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing, with 25 cases recorded in Benue and 18 in Kogi. He added that bleeding, advanced age and seizures were identified as the strongest predictors of mortality among infected patients.

Speaking on future research priorities, former Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency and adviser to the research team, Professor John Idoko, said the ultimate goal remains the development of an effective Lassa fever vaccine capable of significantly reducing the disease burden in Nigeria and across West Africa.