Ebola: Hot water and salt not a cure, Nigeria cautions citizens

Mr. Maku said there is no cure for the deadly disease yet.

The Nigerian Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, on Friday debunked rumours that bathing with hot water and salt solution can be used to prevent Ebola virus infection.

A statement signed by the Minister’s Chief Press Secretary, Joseph Mutah, said the speculation that salt and hot water solution cures the deadly viral disease is only a rumour.

Mr. Maku said there was no cure yet for the disease yet. He urged Nigerians to, however, maintain maximum environmental and personal hygiene to guard against contracting the deadly virus.

The social media late Thursday and early Friday went agog with information that salt and water could prevent infection by Ebola Virus.

Relatives from all parts of Nigeria called loved ones to take their bath with the new found solution to the disease.

Some explained further that the Federal Government was planning to spray a chemical which could prevent the virus from spreading, they said salt and hot water solution would serve as a proactive measure.

A housewife, Patience Enang, 36, told PREMIUM TIMES that her husband, a soldier, called her at 5 a.m. from Kaduna. She said he instructed her to bath their three children with the solution.

“I just finished bathing my children with hot water and salt and I go ‘baff’ now sef. My husband call me for morning around 5, he say hot water and salt is now a prevention for a Ebola,” Mrs. Enang said.

Mrs. Enang did not stop at bathing her own children with the solution, she went ahead to pass on her husband’s instruction to her neighbours out of love.