While trying to do some reading this morning, I heard noises of rushing water and exclamations as early as 4am, then calls and messages started coming in begging us to take our bathe with Hot Salt Water as early as possible before going out this morning to avoid contraction of the dreaded Ebola Virus which has killed over 930 people in west Africa so far.
Some of the messages read:
*"Goodmorning please I just heard is new everybody should bath hot water wit salt n drink some wit salt before day break it has to do wit Ebola please pass it on to others"
*" Good morning all........an information just got 2 me that everyone should have their bathe with hot water with salt in it to avoid EBOLA...message from father Mbaka"
*" Use hot water and salt to take ur bath this morning, then drink a little out of it . I have jst done mine ... It is said to b a traditional vaccine for ebola , please don't keep this information to u self send to all your contacts including your enemies God bless you as you share these."
*" Please ebola virus is in Imo state now .take bath with hot water and enough salt please.you r very important to me"
" Pls a message just came in that ebola just got into d air, please before coming outside dis morning try and take your bath with hot water and salt and u will still drink hot water with salt , don't let others die try and share wit more people you love, its from d federal ministry of health, courtesy...."
Others went ahead to say they watched the news on channels tv whilst the FG declared a chemical has been shot on the air by the Americans and in other to immunize yourself properly should take shower with warm water and salt.
There are just lots of cooked up stories about these things and what kills me most is how our people carry on with such stories including our believed very literate/learned men and women!!
Please really how does soduim chloride (salt) applied to the skin prevent a chemical you will inhale true your nose? with no further immunization whatsoever.
Soon enough every sneeze from a number will be tagged as a result of nothing bathing with salt or the virus itself. ( naija to the panic joor mtchewwww)
Some even said people should also drink the salty warm water and brush with salt everyday before leaving their rooms, claiming that the virus is now "airborne".
Personally, I disregarded the messages which I see as one of those cases in Nigeria when people just try making mountains out of moll hills in this country. The kind about "Dew bottled water killing many in Lagos".
But my opinion was not enough.
On the Nigerian Network News, 7am this morning, the Director-General National Orientation Agency, Mr. Mike Omeri, said people should disregard the rumour which spreading rapidly that people should take their bath with hot water and salt in the bid to prevent the virus. According to the Director, such rumour is not from the government as claimed by some of the messages and calls.
On the Nigerian Network News, 7am this morning, the Director-General National Orientation Agency, Mr. Mike Omeri, said people should disregard the rumour which spreading rapidly that people should take their bath with hot water and salt in the bid to prevent the virus. According to the Director, such rumour is not from the government as claimed by some of the messages and calls.
In the news also, a doctor from the federal ministry of health advised Nigerians to disregard the rumour.
Well, for now, we can't say exactly where this rumour originated from, we know that it is not from the government and we also know that Ebola Virus has not been reported to be airborne in any other place, even in places like Liberia, Mali and Uganda where it has killed many.Did the virus suddenly developed wings because it came to Nigeria?
Could this be a rumour sponsored by some salt dealers who want to hike the price of salt for some days by creating unnecessary scare?
Diseases that are airborne usually get into the body through breathing, so how does salting one's body prevent the virus from entering into the body via breathing?
I advice you to pray for God's protection and go around doing what you have to do.
Always wash your hands with soap and water as much as you can in a day.
Don't touch people with signs of the virus such as bleeding from skin, diarrhoea, vomiting, severe weakness etc.
Always wash your hands with soap and water as much as you can in a day.
Don't touch people with signs of the virus such as bleeding from skin, diarrhoea, vomiting, severe weakness etc.
You can minimise the touching and shaking of people especially if they are sick.
Stop the rumour peddling please.
