As Nigeria records her first mortality from the Ebola scourge, the country’s minster of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu has debunked claims that bitter cola is efficacious in the prevention and treatment of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD.
Speaking to a network News channel, AIT, the minister said a study was conducted by a Nigerian scientist, Maurice Iwu, and that his study was inconclusive.
He asked Nigerians to eat biter cola for other reasons other than to prevent or treat Ebola, adding that his ministry was procuring more isolation tents to cope with the demands that may arise in the days ahead as the full impact of the spread of Ebola hits home.
He also said the Nigerian government had reached out to the United States for help with the trial serum found to be efficacious in controlling the devastating impact of the Ebola virus in humans.
It is the same treatment that the two American missionaries – Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol – who contracted Ebola while working in Liberia are receiving at the Emeroy hospital in Atlanta, where they were flown and are in isolation. They are responding to treatment.
In the meantime, Chukwu asked Nigerians to maintain the highest form of personal and environmental hygiene and to report any suspected case of Ebola to health authorities.