Ebola and the myth of salt

The news that drinking and bathing with salt water could protect from and cure one of the Ebola Virus Disease went viral on various social media platforms over the weekend.

Many immediately besieged supermarkets to cart away packs of salt to protect themselves against the disease that has killed over 900 people in Africa in the last six months.

Alarmed at this purported cure in circulation, medical experts, including the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, quickly took to media platforms to dispel this unfounded rumour.

They had every reason to fear. Salt, when consumed in large quantities, can predispose one to hypertension, kidney disease and other organ-related issues, according to experts.

The physicians note that even though salt water is a natural oral disinfectant, it should never be ingested. Besides, it has never been a cure for any illness, not to talk of a deadly disease such as Ebola.

Chukwu says,“Salt is not a cure or a preventive measure against Ebola. There is no cure for Ebola yet. It is sad that people are making light of a deadly situation. Salt should not be taken in large quantity or directly. It is toxic, it corrodes organs. It makes them fail. It shocks the body and damages some internal tissues.

“Even when you use it to bath. It is toxic to the skin. It strips it of its moisture and other vital oils. Drinking salt water will only lead to other grievous health challenges. I believe Nigeria has laws in this regard. Perpetrators of this news must be fished out and prosecuted through the appropriate channels. People are vulnerable right now because they will do anything to prevent a disease that has no cure. We must be on guard and not complicate the situation.”

Ebola Virus Disease has no known cure or vaccine yet. Even the ZMapp serum, used to treat Ebola-Infected Americans, has yet to be approved for clinical trials by the Food and Drugs Administration.

Even the World Health Organisation states explicitly that the disease has no cure and the only treatment offered to patients is therapy, which includes giving of fluids to replace lost electrolytes and fluids.

Experts warn that the public should steer clear of such persons or products that some persons flaunt as a possible cure for the disease.

They note that even though scientists home and abroad are working tirelessly to discover a cure for the Ebola virus, they are yet to come up with a scientifically acceptable one.

Still speaking on the danger of consuming salt, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Oladipo Akinkugbe, notes that high-salt intake of it has been identified as the major reason why Africans are more prone to developing hypertension, stroke and other organ failure.

He states, “ Research has proved that salt intake is a reason why most Africans have hypertension. We take too much of salt and it is time we had a national salt-focused reduction therapy. Salt has been proved to jerk up the blood pressure of blacks and we must do everything to reduce our daily intake of salt through foods every day.”

The viral disease may have no cure but one can take precautionary measures to reduce one’s risk of contracting it – by maintaining high standards of personal and environmental hygiene.

Experts say prevention should focus on avoiding contact with the viruses and infected persons. The following precautions can help prevent infection and spread of Ebola.

Wash your hands frequently. As with other infectious diseases, one of the most important preventive measures is frequent hand-washing. Use soap and water, or use alcohol-based hand rubs containing at least 60 per cent alcohol when soap and water aren’t available.

Avoid bush meat. Avoid buying or eating the wild animals, including nonhuman primates, sold in local markets.

Avoid contact with infected people. In particular, caregivers should avoid contact with the person’s body fluids and tissues, including blood, semen, vaginal secretions and saliva. People with Ebola are most contagious in the later stages of the disease.

Follow infection-control procedures. If you are a health care worker, wear protective clothing such as gloves, masks, gowns and eye shields. Keep infected people isolated from others. Dispose of needles and sterilise other instruments.

Don’t handle remains. The bodies of people who have died of Ebola or Marburg disease are still contagious. Specially organised and trained teams should bury the remains, using appropriate safety equipment.

Copyright PUNCH.

ebola HEALTH 03:27