How can Lassa fever be prevented?

Prevention focuses on reducing contact with the multimammate rat (Mastomys natalensis), the primary animal reservoir. Key measures recommended by the WHO and CDC include: (1) Store food in rodent-proof containers and dispose of garbage away from the home. (2) Keep homes clean and seal entry points to discourage rats. (3) Avoid contact with rodents, their nests, urine, or faeces. (4) Healthcare workers must use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) — gloves, gowns, masks — when caring for suspected or confirmed Lassa fever patients, and follow strict infection control protocols. (5) Community education in endemic areas (Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea) on the risks of handling or consuming rats. There is currently no approved vaccine for Lassa fever, though multiple candidates are in clinical development under CEPI funding.