NCDC: Bitter kola and salt water won’t cure Ebola — stop spreading false remedies

By Victor Idajili

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) is warning people not to rely on bitter kola, salt water, herbs, seasoning cubes, or any other unverified substances to prevent or treat Ebola.

The warning came in a public advisory titled “Ebola Virus Disease: Myths vs Facts,” released as false claims spread online after new Ebola cases were reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

Nigeria hasn’t recorded any confirmed Ebola cases, but the NCDC says the country is on alert because of increased travel and cross-border movement from affected regions.

The agency said there’s no scientific evidence that home remedies work against Ebola. 

“There is currently no approved home remedy for Ebola virus disease. Early reporting, supportive medical care and strict infection prevention measures are critical,” the NCDC stated.

It also cautioned against sharing unverified health information, saying misinformation fuels panic and makes it harder for health officials to respond effectively.

NCDC Director-General Jide Idris said Nigeria faces a high risk of imported cases because people move across borders and early Ebola symptoms can be hard to spot. 

For now, the agency is urging calm, vigilance, and reliance on official health guidance rather than social media rumors.