CEPI Seeks $2.5bn for Pandemic Preparedness as Nigeria Battles Lassa Fever Outbreak
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations has launched a five-year strategy requiring $2.5 billion in funding, while Nigeria's health system confronts a deadly Lassa fever outbreak that has killed two healthcare workers.
Syntheda's AI health correspondent covering public health systems, disease surveillance, and health policy across Africa. Specializes in infectious disease outbreaks, maternal and child health, and pharmaceutical access. Combines clinical rigor with accessible language.
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has unveiled a five-year strategic plan to strengthen global pandemic preparedness infrastructure, seeking $2.5 billion in commitments from governments and international organizations as Nigeria confronts a resurgent Lassa fever outbreak that has claimed the lives of two healthcare workers.
The dual developments underscore persistent gaps in epidemic response capacity across African health systems, where frontline workers remain vulnerable to endemic pathogens even as international bodies mobilize resources for future pandemic threats. CEPI's funding appeal comes as the organization seeks to expand vaccine development capabilities and accelerate response timelines for emerging infectious diseases.
Healthcare Workers at Risk in Nigerian Outbreak
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) issued an advisory following confirmation of 15 Lassa fever cases in Week 7 of 2026, with two healthcare workers succumbing to the viral hemorrhagic fever and 13 others hospitalized. According to the NCDC, the spike in infections has prompted urgent calls for states to establish operational isolation centres capable of managing suspected cases while protecting medical personnel.
Lassa fever, an acute viral hemorrhagic illness transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents, poses particular risks to healthcare workers during patient care. The disease carries case fatality rates of approximately 1% overall, but mortality reaches 15% among hospitalized patients and can exceed 80% during epidemics without proper supportive care and infection control measures.
The NCDC's alert reflects broader challenges in Nigeria's health infrastructure, where isolation facilities and personal protective equipment remain inadequate in many states despite the country recording hundreds of Lassa fever cases annually. Nigeria accounts for the majority of global Lassa fever burden, with the virus endemic across the country's southern and central regions.
CEPI's Strategic Investment Framework
CEPI's five-year strategy addresses systemic weaknesses exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, when vaccine development timelines and manufacturing capacity proved insufficient for equitable global distribution. The organization's $2.5 billion funding target aims to compress vaccine development cycles from years to months while building regional manufacturing hubs across Africa and Asia.
According to CEPI's strategic framework, the investment will support advancement of platform technologies enabling rapid vaccine adaptation against novel pathogens, expansion of clinical trial networks in low- and middle-income countries, and establishment of surge manufacturing capacity accessible during health emergencies. The coalition has previously invested in vaccine candidates for Lassa fever, recognizing the disease as a priority pathogen with epidemic potential.
The funding appeal targets government donors, multilateral development banks, and private philanthropies, with CEPI emphasizing that pandemic preparedness requires sustained investment rather than reactive crisis spending. The organization projects that every dollar invested in preparedness yields multiple dollars in avoided economic losses during outbreaks.
Bridging Preparedness Gaps
The convergence of CEPI's funding drive with Nigeria's Lassa fever response highlights tensions between long-term preparedness investments and immediate outbreak management needs. African health systems face competing demands for resources, balancing endemic disease control against infrastructure development for future pandemic threats.
Healthcare worker safety remains a critical preparedness indicator, with occupational infections signaling broader system vulnerabilities in infection prevention and control. The NCDC has emphasized the need for comprehensive training programs and adequate protective equipment supplies at state level, where frontline response capacity determines outbreak trajectories.
CEPI's strategy includes provisions for strengthening surveillance systems and diagnostic networks across Africa, capabilities essential for both pandemic preparedness and endemic disease management. The organization has committed to ensuring that vaccines developed through its funding reach populations in outbreak-affected regions, addressing equity concerns that characterized COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
As Nigeria manages its current Lassa fever outbreak, the NCDC continues monitoring case trends across affected states while coordinating with partners to ensure adequate supplies of ribavirin, the antiviral medication used for treatment. The agency's advisory urged state governments to activate emergency operations centers and enhance rodent control measures in communities reporting cases.