Negative Effect of Salt Water in Preventing Disease Spread

Salt Water and it’s effects on preventing diseases.

Generally, when the term Salt Water is mentioned, it is as sea water which according to wikipedia has a salinity of about 3.5% (35g/l, or 599 mM). Meaning that every kilogram of seawater has approximately 35 grams (1.2 oz) of dissolved salts.

But in this article, salt water as to be discussed is the mixing of warm drinking water with salt as an immune booster or as a preventive measure.

On the 7th of August 2014, it was rumored that the Nigerian Government through the Minister for Health advised its citizens to take warm salt water and bath with the same and without soap as a preventive measure against the recent outbreak of Ebola Virus in the country.

The Ebola Virus which was formerly called Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever is a severe, often fatal illness in humans.

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has a fatality rate of up to 90%. The outbreaks which until recently occur primarily in remote villages in Central and West Africa were transmitted to people from wild animals (popularly called bush meat in Africa) and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission. Fruit bats of the pteropodidae family are considered to be the natural host of the Ebola virus.

Coming back to our topic on the negative effect of salt water in preventing Ebola spread; drinking salt water is never a good idea as it can lead to sickness, dehydration, brain damage, and even death.

Although some claim there are cleansing benefits to drinking salt water, the negative effects and health risks can be far too disastrous.

Using salt water to prevent disease spread is like trying to prevent one from enemy territory and still giving such a one food from the enemy. In such a scenario, the person might end up dying faster than he/she may have.

However, there are rare occasions when the bulk of your diet would consist of salt water and, in moderation or when paired with fresh water, it is harmless.

Also for the prevention of Ebola disease, here are the best ten preventive measures:

Best Ways to Prevent Ebola Virus Spread

1. Wash your hands regularly.
2. Use a hand sterilizer with at least 60% alcohol as often as possible when water is not available.
3. Avoid eating bush meats of all kinds and cook very well the other types of meat-type of meat you eat.
4. Know the source of the meat you eat in a restaurant
5. Wash and cook animal products rigorously and thoroughly.
6. You should avoid sharing your clothes or asking friends to borrow theirs.
7. Watch out for symptoms of Ebola around your neighborhood, and report anyone who is showing signs of the Ebola virus symptoms.
8. One of the best ways to avoid this is to try your very best to avoid areas where an outbreak has been reported before.
9. Report any unauthorized movement of corpses in your area especially those brought in from Ebola-prone areas.
10. Finally, do not TOUCH a loved one or friend confirmed to be an Ebola patient.

IN CONCLUSION

I advise that people abstain from taking warm salt water as a measure to prevent Ebola disease or any other disease as the case may be. Consider the difference between sea salt and table salt, the important role salt plays within the body, and how easily dehydration can be avoided.