Readiness for Pandemics in West Africa - Collaborative Multiplayer Approaches for an Evolving Climate

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized climate change as one of the greatest threats to human health, particularly in Africa where its effects are particularly pronounced. Increasing temperatures and unpredictable rainfall are significantly impacting human well-being, heightening risks for individuals and communities alike. Of particular concern is the influence of climate change on vector-borne diseases; changing weather patterns could alter disease dynamics, expand their reach to new areas, and increase the chances of disease re-emergence, complicating existing public health challenges.

This scenario amplifies both local and global risks of epidemics and pandemics. A recent study by scientists at Scripps Research and the University of Brussels suggests that climate change could significantly intensify public health challenges associated with Lassa fever. As temperatures rise and precipitation patterns evolve, the risks of viral transmission may spread beyond West Africa into Central and East Africa in the coming decades. This highlights the urgent need to incorporate health considerations into national climate strategies across Africa, utilizing localized data to inform actions. Key strategies requiring immediate attention include establishing climate-resilient health systems, encouraging collaboration across various sectors and countries for pandemic readiness, and ensuring sustainable health financing and solutions.

At the recent Future of Health Conference, experts addressed the critical issue of preparing for pandemics in the face of climate change. In his keynote address, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Nigeria's Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, emphasized the importance of partnerships and coordination in tackling these challenges, urging for constructive, multi-stakeholder collaboration rather than duplicated efforts.

During the conference, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) led a discussion titled "Leveraging Multiplayer Collaborations for Pandemic Preparedness in the Context of Climate Change in West Africa." Moderated by CEPI’s Head of Lassa Engagement, Oyeronke Oyebanji, the panel included Ms. Elsie Ilori, former Director of Surveillance at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and Dr. Julius S.M. Gilayeneh, Deputy Director General of Technical Services at the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), both of whom shared extensive experience in managing disease outbreaks like Ebola, COVID-19, and Lassa fever.

As West Africa confronts climate-driven changes in disease transmission, the dialogue underscored the necessity of cross-sector collaboration to enable swift and effective responses to emerging infectious diseases. With the goal of developing vaccines within 100 days of an outbreak, West African nations are investigating collaborative approaches to strengthen their resilience against future pandemics.

### Building Resilience Amidst Climate Change

Climate change is redefining the scale and geographical distribution of vector-borne diseases, facilitating the spread of illnesses like Lassa fever into new territories. Reports of cases are now common year-round, with international travel contributing to the spread to areas previously unaffected.

Mrs. Elsie Ilori described how, at the NCDC, Lassa fever cases were once only documented from December to April, typically during peak seasons. However, since 2019, there have been consistent year-round reports of confirmed cases, which she attributes to climate change.

In Liberia, although Lassa fever was previously only noted from December to April, since 2019, cases have been recorded throughout the year. The epidemiology of Lassa fever has also shifted, with reports expanding from three counties to seven, which now have year-round cases since 2022.

### Key Insights and Recommendations

The fireside chat highlighted three crucial points:

1. **The Need for Localized Climate Health Data for Policy**: The absence of tailored, context-specific data poses challenges for policymaking and practice, hindering effective health system responses to climate-related issues. Countries often lack the capacity to collect and analyze such data, which restricts their understanding of the connection between climate change and infectious disease trends like Lassa fever. However, employing a One Health approach and leveraging existing surveillance frameworks can bolster local capacities for gathering and analyzing data relevant to climate-health policies. Establishing climate meteorological stations in Liberia could also enhance data collection on climate patterns.

2. **Multisectoral and Cross-Country Collaboration in Pandemic Preparedness**: Addressing climate-sensitive diseases necessitates collaboration across various sectors. Engaging diverse stakeholders—spanning public health, animal health, environmental sectors, finance, academia, and community—is crucial for a comprehensive approach to the complex health impacts of climate change. Community involvement can significantly improve case detection and reduce vaccine hesitancy; initiatives like Nigeria’s "Tatafo" event-based surveillance system and Liberia’s "Community Action Network" for vaccine development illustrate this. Additionally, cross-country collaboration fosters regional resilience through resource sharing, enhancing overall global health security against infectious diseases.

3. **Achieving the 100 Days Mission is Essential**: The ambitious "100 Days Mission," aimed at developing vaccines and medical responses within 100 days of a new outbreak detection, is vital for global health security. However, realizing this objective relies on collaborative efforts across various sectors and nations, pooling resources and expertise to mitigate the health impacts of climate change.

Ms. Oyeronke Oyebanji from CEPI reiterated the urgency of preparation, prevention, and response, noting the escalating risk of outbreaks and pandemics driven by climate change. Effective collaboration is crucial for enhancing pandemic preparedness.

### Moving Forward: Translating Ideas into Action

Climate change is already influencing the spread of infectious diseases in West Africa. Prioritizing effective data collection, fostering regional collaboration, and engaging communities are essential to building resilience against future health crises. Countries must initiate and maintain efforts to prepare, prevent, and respond to outbreaks in alignment with CEPI's 100-day mission framework.