Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus and is mainly spread through direct and indirect human–rodent interaction. In Nigeria, Lassa fever outbreaks are becoming more frequent, and studies suggest that changes in climatic and ecological conditions will exacerbate these trends. It is crucial that health professionals are involved in health and risk communication efforts and can contribute to changes in local practices to reduce transmission. In this article we explore the views and perceptions of one group of healthcare professionals (medical doctors) in Nigeria on the impact of climate change on the transmission and prevalence of Lassa fever, drawing on semi‐structured interviews with eight participants. In doing so we provide original insights into the beliefs, values and explanatory models held by key health professionals, which will help to inform future risk communications, guidance and policy. We embed this analysis within a critical discussion of the literature dealing with Lassa fever prevalence and the infrastructures of healthcare in Nigeria. We argue that while the impact of climate change on local ecologies should be recognised, there is a need to ensure risk communication activities focus on the specific local actions individuals and communities can undertake.
Eroje et al. (Thu,) studied this question.