Ebola: Two dead, 20 others hospitalised over excessive salt consumption

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">At least two persons have been feared dead with 20 others hospitalized in various hospitals in Plateau State after consuming excessive quantity of salt and bitter kola to prevent Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) attack following a viral message on social media that it could prevent the spread of the Ebola virus.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/salt-bath.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="salt-bath" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-458691" height="231" src="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/salt-bath.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow; border: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow;" width="412" /></span></a></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In Abuja the Federal Government advised Nigerians to disregard the text message and postings on social media that hot water and salt may be used to prevent Ebola infection and cure infected persons.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The deceased whose identities could not be ascertained at the time of this report were said to be hypertension patients.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A resident who worships in the same church with one of the deceased, Atang Itse said he does not know “much about the woman but she worships at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Hwolshe” confirmed she died “this evening as a result of salt she took in the night when everyone was bathing and drinking salt water”.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The source added the other victim was a taxi driver who plied Jos city and neighbouring local government areas.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">However, the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Health, Dr. Elias Pede who is holding forte for the Commissioner, Dr. Fom Dakwak said “he was not aware of any dead” though he had earlier confirmed to other journalist that “one person died but full details were yet to be received.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A text message asking Nigerians to prevent Ebola attack by drinking salt water and bathing with it went viral in the country this week.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Hot water, salt can’t cure Ebola FG warns</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In Abuja the Federal Government advised Nigerians to disregard the text message and postings on social media that hot water and salt may be used to prevent Ebola infection and cure infected persons.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, said in a statement in Abuja on Friday that the people should disregard such rumours as cure had yet to be found for the disease.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The message reads: “Please ensure that you and your family and all your neighbours bath with hot water and salt before daybreak today because of Ebola virus which is spreading through the air.’’</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Maku said the information being circulated to Nigerians about the cure for the disease was false and should not be taken seriously.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Nigerians have been urged to disregard rumours being circulated in the social media that bathing with hot water and salt cures the Ebola disease.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“There is no cure yet for the Ebola disease, what is being circulated is only a rumour that will only mislead Nigerians,’’ he said.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The minister said Nigerians had already been informed on the necessary steps to adopt to avoid the spread of the virus and would be duly informed on additional measures when necessary.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He urged the people to continue to maintain maximum environmental and personal hygiene to guard against contracting the virus.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The federal and state governments have been on the alert on the control of a possible spread of the virus and the number of infected persons rises in Lagos.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />The government had also dismissed claims that bitter kola could be used to cure the disease or prevent people from contracting the disease. (NAN)</span><br /> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Apple Watch...It's Coming Soon</span><br /> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img alt="Apple iWatch Can Be Launching With 1.7 “ and 1.3 “ Variants" border="0" class="slingpic_reset" height="456" scale="0" src="http://www.zadtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Apple-iWatch-Can-Be-Launching-With-1.7-and-1.3-Variants_thumb.jpg" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; bottom: auto !important; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; height: auto !important; left: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; max-width: 100% !important; padding: 0px; position: relative !important; right: auto !important; text-align: justify; top: auto !important; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Apple iWatch Can Be Launching With 1.7 “ and 1.3 “ Variants" width="590" /></span></div> <br /></div>

Ebola: Two dead, 20 others hospitalised over excessive salt consumption

At least two persons have been feared dead with 20 others hospitalized in various hospitals in Plateau State after consuming excessive qua...

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