A surge of unexplained fever and cough cases in Lagos has triggered public anxiety and overwhelmed hospitals and pharmacies, reviving fears of a possible new COVID-19 wave.
Reports of a wave of persistent fever and cough across Lagos have sparked public anxiety, with many residents fearing a resurgence of COVID-19 or another viral outbreak.
Forty-two-year-old Kabir Adeoye, who initially treated malaria symptoms, said, “Despite completing my medications, I still felt the same way and wondered if the drugs no longer worked.” His confusion deepened when his wife and two children developed similar symptoms.
Another resident, Amusan, recounted battling a lingering cough and cold that refused to subside. “At one point, I even worried that it could truly be COVID-19,” she said.
Health facilities across the state report a surge in patients showing flu-like symptoms. “For the past two weeks, we have had a steady stream of patients with persistent coughs and fevers. It feels just like 2020 all over again,” a nurse in Oshodi said.
Doctors confirm the rise in respiratory infections. Dr Oluwajimi Sodipo of LASUTH noted, “We have seen an increase in the number of people presenting with upper respiratory infections such as runny noses, headaches, and fever.”
Pharmacies also report a spike in demand for cold and flu medications, with some running out of stock.
Experts warn that poor surveillance and border control could worsen the situation. Virologist Prof. Oyewale Tomori cautioned, “How many of the labs that were testing for COVID are still functioning today?”
The NCDC says it is monitoring global trends in respiratory infections and has intensified surveillance at airports and borders to prevent a possible resurgence in Nigeria.