By Jumoke Olaitan
The Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sonny Echono, has challenged Nigerian scientists to identify the fastest pathway to developing the country’s first Lassa fever vaccine.
Echono gave the charge on Tuesday in Abuja during the presentation of the outcomes of the TETFund-sponsored Mega Research Project on Lassa fever by the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo.
He described the recurring disease as a major public health burden requiring urgent scientific solutions.
Reacting to the findings presented by the research team, Echono said the results underscored the need for Nigeria to move beyond research to practical interventions that would directly benefit citizens.
He urged the researchers to also prioritise vaccine development, describing vaccination as the most effective means of controlling infectious diseases.
”What is the shortest route toward 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?” he asked.
Echono assured the researchers of TETFund’s support in working with relevant government agencies to translate the findings into national health interventions.
”We will escalate these findings to the relevant authorities, including the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Federal Ministry of Health.
“If we receive the validation we expect, it will strengthen our case for establishing a vaccine development centre in Nigeria,” he said.
He commended the researchers for producing findings capable of improving healthcare delivery in the country.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Francis Uba, described the project as one of the institution’s most significant research investments.
According to him, TETFund awarded the university a N250 million Mega Research Grant about four years ago to investigate Lassa fever.
Uba said the project had generated valuable scientific evidence on the epidemiology, diagnosis, management and control of the disease while strengthening the university’s research infrastructure and laboratory capacity.
He appealed to TETFund and the Federal Government to designate the institution as a National Centre of Excellence in Infectious Diseases Research.
Presenting the findings, the Principal Investigator, Joseph Okopi, said Nigeria bore the highest burden of Lassa fever globally, recording between 5,000 and 10,000 deaths annually.
Okopi said the TETFund-funded study was the largest multi-state population surveillance on Lassa fever conducted in Nigeria.
He said the study investigated antibody prevalence, identified rodent vectors, examined transmission patterns and assessed risk factors associated with the disease.
According to him, Benue recorded the highest prevalence of Lassa fever antibodies among the five states surveyed, while adults aged between 20 and 40 years are with the highest exposure because of farming and other outdoor activities.
He added that poor housing conditions, rodent infestation, food contamination, leaking roofs and poorly fitted doors were among the major environmental risk factors associated with infection.
Okopi also said the study found that rodent consumption was not an independent predictor of Lassa fever infection, contrary to widely held assumptions.
Also speaking, Prof. Audu Onyemocho, who presented the clinical findings, said 1,266 participants were enrolled in the study, while 392 suspected cases were investigated in Benue and Kogi states.
Onyemocho said 43 cases were confirmed through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests, with Benue recording 25 cases and Kogi 18.
He added that bleeding, older age and seizures were identified as the strongest predictors of mortality among confirmed patients.
Speaking on future research priorities, Prof. John Idoko, the Former director of NEMA and currently the advisor of the research team, emphasised that vaccine development remained the ultimate goal.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi