At the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, preventive measures seemed the most appropriate method to control its spread. We assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the Ivorian public regarding preventive measures, conducting a hybrid survey across the country. Participants were invited to complete a questionnaire online, by phone, or face-to-face. Chi-squared, Fisher’s exact, and Kruskal–Wallis tests were used to compare the frequency of responses regarding compliance with preventive measures. Data were validated for 564 individuals. Over one-third of respondents believed that COVID-19 was related to non-natural causes. Though the disease was perceived as severe, respondents did not consider it to be highly infectious. Overall, 35.6% of respondents fully trust health officials in the management of the pandemic, and 34.6% trusted them moderately. Individuals who believed COVID-19 was a disease caused by a pathogen and the well-educated were likely to comply with preventive measures. About 70% of respondents stated that their daily expenses had increased due to preventive measures. The study concludes that beyond unfavorable socioeconomic conditions, the level of knowledge regarding COVID-19 and trust in the government/health system are more likely to influence compliance with preventive measures such as self-reporting, physical distancing, the use of face masks, and eventually the acceptability of vaccines.

Introduction Lassa fever remains endemic in West Africa, yet Côte d’Ivoire’s position within the Lassa virus (LASV) belt is poorly documented. The country’s ecological diversity, widespread wild meat consumption, and socio-economic reliance on wildlife-based livelihoods may heighten zoonotic transmission risks. However, key knowledge gaps persist regarding LASV circulation patterns, serotype distribution, reservoir species, and associated ecological dynamics. These gaps may compromise risk assessments, early detection, and outbreak preparedness. Methods This study aimed to assess the extent to which LASV surveillance is integrated into wildlife research in Côte d’Ivoire, to identify critical scientific and operational gaps, and to propose avenues for addressing them. A systematic review of peer-reviewed literature published between 2012 and 2022 was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar. From 486 articles initially identified, 203 met inclusion criteria and were analyzed for study species, pathogens investigated, geographic coverage, diagnostic methods, and cross-sectoral collaboration, with a focus on LASV-related data. Results Findings reveal that fewer than 5% of studies addressed rodent-borne diseases. LASV detection was reported in Mastomys natalensis in Korhogo (northern Côte d’Ivoire), with strains genetically linked to a human case. Additionally, a fatal retrospective human case in Bangolo (western Côte d’Ivoire) and a historical LASV seroprevalence of 26% among forest workers underscore long-standing human exposure. Despite these signals, no LASV-specific surveillance initiatives were documented during the review period, even as new outbreaks emerge in neighboring countries. Conclusion Only five targeted studies on LASV have been conducted in Côte d’Ivoire over the past two decades. Current knowledge remains fragmented and academic, with major gaps in surveillance coverage, reservoir monitoring, and intersectoral coordination. Addressing these gaps requires a robust One Health strategy prioritizing longitudinal rodent studies, molecular diagnostics, behavioral risk assessments, and community-based syndromic monitoring. Strengthening collaboration between wildlife, veterinary, and public health sectors is essential to close LASV knowledge gaps and enhance regional health security.