Scientists pursue on-the-spot rapid tests for Nipah virus, Lassa fever
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Key takeaways:
- CEPI is funding a $14.9 million project to develop Nipah virus and Lassa fever rapid tests to better identify and respond to outbreaks.
- Vaccines are in development for both infections but are not yet available.
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, or CEPI, is funding a project to develop on-the-spot rapid tests for Nipah virus and Lassa fever to better monitor outbreaks of both diseases, the organization announced.
The Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) will lead the CEPI-funded $14.9 million project, which will run from February 2024 through January 2028 to identify the best point-of-care tests for Nipah virus and Lassa fever.
Vaccines against the infections are in development, including four against Lassa fever and three against Nipah virus that CEPI has funded for development, but none are available right now.
Developing diagnostics is central to CEPI’s 100 Days Mission, a multibillion dollar effort to streamline the development of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics within 100 days of identifying a potentially pandemic pathogen.
“Access to quality, rapid diagnostic testing is the cornerstone of global health security,” Cassandra Kelly-Cirino, vice president of health programs at FIND, said in a press release. “Lack of testing to identify frequent outbreaks of both Nipah and Lassa puts individuals at risk of these deadly diseases, as well as posing threats to whole populations. Having the tools to spot these outbreaks early is critical so that outbreaks can be contained.”
Nipah virus was first reported in 1999 in Malaysia after an outbreak in pigs spread to humans, which was tracked back to fruit bats.
Outbreaks in humans generally are limited to South and Southeast Asia, but fruit bats live in a geographical area containing roughly 2 billion people, and approximately 70% of people infected with Nipah die, according to CEPI.
Lassa fever, a rat-borne viral disease, was first identified in Nigeria in 1969 after three nurses were infected with a then unknown pathogen causing acute hemorrhagic disease. This first recorded outbreak included 26 suspected cases and 10 deaths.
Lassa fever is endemic in West Africa, and the CDC estimates that there are between 100,000 and 300,000 cases annually, with roughly 5,000 deaths. According to CEPI, as many as 80% of cases are asymptomatic, and initial signs and symptoms are nonspecific, so it can be difficult to diagnose.
“Fast disease detection means health workers can begin targeted treatment quickly and make referral to the next level of health care for better investigation and management if needed,” In-Kyu Yoon, executive director for research and development at CEPI, said in the release. “The rapid tests can also be used for public health interventions such as patient isolation and contract tracing, and to help develop tools such as vaccines to counter these deadly diseases.”
References:
- CDC. Lassa fever. https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/lassa/index.html. Last reviewed April 26, 2022. Accessed Feb. 19, 2024.
- CEPI. Testing the tests: Scientists seek out best on-the-spot diagnostics for deadly Nipah and Lassa. https://cepi.net/news_cepi/testing-the-tests-scientists-seek-out-best-on-the-spot-diagnostics-for-deadly-nipah-and-lassa/. Published Feb. 15, 2024. Accessed Feb. 19, 2024.
Collapse
Press Release
Read more about
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts