The Zoological Society of Nigeria (ZSN) on Friday, November 26, 2025, opened its 18th Annual Conference at the University of Ibadan, gathering top scholars, policymakers, researchers, and industry experts for high-level discussions.
Held at the historic Trenchard Hall, the opening ceremony set the tone for a conference focused on one of the most urgent global concerns — the health of ecosystems and the threats posed by infectious diseases.
Delivering the second keynote address titled “Genomic Surveillance and Characterization of Microbial Threats Facilitate Early Detection and Containment of Disease Outbreaks in West Africa,” Prof. Christian Happi, Director of the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemers University, provided an illuminating overview of how genomics is transforming outbreak response and reshaping Africa’s public-health landscape
Prof. Happi detailed the revolutionary work ACEGID has carried out over the last decade to strengthen global and regional health security through pathogen genomics.
“We are transforming outbreak response in the pathogen genomic era,” he declared, noting that Africa now stands at the forefront of genomic surveillance innovations that once lagged on the continent.
Prof. Happi recounted ACEGID’s landmark role during the 2014 Ebola Virus Disease outbreak, describing it as a turning point in Africa’s outbreak response capability. “Genomic surveillance elucidated the Ebola virus origin and transmission during the 2014 outbreak,” he said.
He revealed that four distinct Ebola virus lineages were identified in Sierra Leone, all spreading through sustained human-to-human transmission, with no evidence of new spillover events from animal reservoirs during the outbreak.
Happi added that ACEGID:
· Developed the first Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) for Ebola
· Conducted the first large-scale genome-sequence analysis of the circulating Ebola virus population
· Made 99 Ebola genomes publicly available by June 2014, with another 150 genomes released by August 2015
These data helped explain the factors that drove—and sustained—the epidemic.
Turning to Lassa fever, Prof. Happi traced the disease’s history and ACEGID’s interventions: “We brought diagnostics for a deadly virus to rural Nigeria and transformed patient care, reducing the case fatality rate,” he noted.
ACEGID sequenced the first complete Lassa virus genome, enabling improved epidemiological insight and helping Nigeria respond more rapidly to annual outbreaks.
Prof. Happi presented a timeline of Africa’s major outbreaks over two decades—
2006: Lassa Fever
2014: Ebola
2018: Yellow Fever
2020: COVID-19
2024: Marburg
2025: Monkey Pox (Mpox)
He explained how genomic surveillance enabled early detection, rapid containment, and improved clinical management across these outbreaks.
“Mpox is a zoonosis with a broad rodent reservoir across West and Central Africa. There is an urgent need for a non-discriminatory and non-stigmatizing nomenclature for the virus,” Happi stressed.
He revealed that genomic data collected across Nigerian states show persistent transmission chains and zoonotic lineages spread across the Nigeria-Cameroon border, underlining the importance of coordinated regional surveillance.
Prof. Happi disclosed that Sierra Leone recently faced a major mpox outbreak with over 4,000 confirmed cases. ACEGID sequencing revealed:
· A new mpox variant doubling every two weeks
· An estimated 30,000 infections in circulation
· Rapid deployment of LOOKOUT Mpox in just six hours
· Establishment of a national data platform for Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health
“Fast deployment of genomic tools allowed Sierra Leone to track and respond to this variant in real time,” he said.
Prof. Happi highlighted ACEGID’s collaboration with the Rwandan government during the 2024 Marburg virus outbreak.
· Outbreak contained within 66 days
· Case fatality rate: 20%, significantly lower than the typical 80%
· Genomic insights were applied immediately to guide public health action
“This is proof that fast response saves lives,” he affirmed.
Throughout his presentation, Prof. Happi emphasized that genomic epidemiology is now essential for detecting, tracking, and controlling infectious diseases—especially in regions prone to zoonotic spillovers.
“Genomics allows us to see what is happening in real time, identify threats early, and act fast enough to prevent epidemics from becoming catastrophes,” he said.
He urged African governments, institutions and researchers to invest in genomic capacity, noting that environmental health, ecosystem stability, and disease control are interlinked.
Prof. Happi’s keynote perfectly aligned with the conference theme, “Healthy Ecosystems: Path to Productivity and Sustainability,” as he stressed that ecosystem disturbances often trigger infectious disease emergence.
He concluded with a call for stronger collaboration, data sharing, and investment in genomic infrastructure across Africa.
