Don't fall for it: Hot water, salt and other things that won't cure Ebola

The World Health Organization warned on Tuesday that West Africa could face up to 10,000 new Ebola cases a week within two months, adding that the death rate in the current outbreak has risen to 70 percent. And the world is understandably panicking. The disease carries an extremely high mortality rate and by all accounts is an extremely horrible death - with people suffering from high fever and internal bleeding.

To make matters more frustrating, there seems to be no workable cure in sight.

US President Barack Obama has said that the “the world is not doing enough” to fight the disease and scientists are working furiously on possible treatments and vaccines to stop the killer virus.

According to scientists, the ZMAPP medicine, made by infecting tobacco leaves with a genetically engineered virus that contains in instructions to make three antibodies to Ebola, has already been used on seven humans with the virus in the current Ebola outbreak, reported News.com.

One of the vaccines that could help prevent the spread of Ebola could be made in any brewery according to the head of the pharmaceutical company that makes it. Last month, a trial of this vaccine showed 100 per cent of vaccinated guinea pigs and mice were protected from death after being exposed to the Ebola virus.

Canadian scientists are also beginning clinical trials for an experimental vaccine that was developed in the country.

They are saying the start of the phase 1 trials for EBOV-VSV mark a promising development in the global fight against the disease.

These drugs however are all in experimental stage and a panicked public seems to be improvising medications, in an effort to stay free of the disease. Though there are lots of messages and emails doing the rounds that suggest there are  natural ways to prevent Ebola. There really aren’t. We listed out some of the bizarre natural remedies that will NOT cure you of Ebola.

1. Garlic, onion and honey: WhatsApp messages claim that eating immune boosting foods such as garlic, oregano and honey can boost your immune system and prevent you from Ebola. Well, it may boost your immune system, it won’t cure you of Ebola.

2. Salt and hot water: Email messages has gone viral saying salt has the magical power to treat Ebola. In fact, a social media message claiming that salt water can cure or prevent Ebola may have began as an exercise in black humor but went viral causing illness and deaths in West Africa, notes this news.discovery report . Drinking too much fresh water can be fatal, and drinking salt water is unhealthy, especially for those who suffer from high blood pressure.

3. Baba Ramdev has put out an advertisement offering “a health pack” for preventing Ebola virus. A health official told The Hindu , “As on date there is no proof to prove there are medicines that can cure Ebola."

4. Turmeric root– It is powerfully antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, and relieves pain as well as either acetaminophen or ibuprofen but it is no cure to Ebola.