Published: August 18, 2025
MONROVIA — The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has invited Dr. Dougbeh Christopher Nyan, director general of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), to speak at its upcoming international conference on the Lassa fever epidemic in West Africa.
The conference is expected to from September 8th to the 11th and it will be held in Ivory Coast.
The high-level gathering, set to convene later this year, will bring together policymakers, scientists and health experts from across the sub-region to address the growing public health threat of Lassa fever, an acute viral illness that remains endemic in several West African countries.
“Dr. Nyan brings deep experience to share on how we can strengthen regional cooperation to respond faster and prevent future outbreaks, including the ongoing Lassa outbreak in the region,” said Dr. Virgil Kuassi Lokossou, an ECOWAS official involved in organizing the conference.
In a statement, the ECOWAS Lassa Fever Conference Organizing Committee praised Dr. Nyan’s leadership, noting that national public health institutes are “the backbone of outbreak prevention, detection and response.” The release added, “Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan understands this responsibility firsthand. He has been at the heart of some of West Africa’s most complex health emergencies and has worked to strengthen systems that can withstand the next epidemic. His leadership reflects the grit and clarity that public health demands.”
Lassa fever is caused by the Lassa virus, transmitted primarily through contact with infected rodents or exposure to rodent excretions. Human-to-human transmission is also possible through direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids from an infected person. The disease is endemic in countries including Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali and Sierra Leone, and health experts believe it may exist in other West African states as well.
Liberia’s Progress Under Nyan
Since assuming leadership of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia, Dr. Nyan has overseen a decline in active Lassa fever cases in Liberia, a development health officials describe as a significant step in the fight against the disease. His team has also coordinated Liberia’s response to Mpox and measles outbreaks. Notably, Liberia has reported the lowest number of Mpox cases on the African continent under Nyan’s stewardship, despite a surge in neighboring Sierra Leone.
Health experts say these results demonstrate how strategic outbreak preparedness and rapid response can help countries minimize public health risks and save lives. The ECOWAS conference is expected to focus on bolstering surveillance systems, harmonizing regional response strategies and strengthening cross-border cooperation against Lassa fever and other emerging infectious diseases.
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