I woke up this morning to some broadcast that bathing and drinking salt water will effectively fight the Ebola virus that has become the National topic of discussion since the Liberian diplomat released it into the Nigerian space of awareness.

Unfortunately, neither the Ministry of Health, the Lagos State Government nor our anointed agents in Holy Agencies i.e Men of God have not deemed it fit to advise the populace accordingly.

WHAT IS SALT?

in its simplest definition, salt is sodium chloride, a white crystal found in sea water which is used for preserving and seasoning food. This is what majority of Nigerians know salt for.

From the perspective of Chemistry, Salt a chemical substance that is a combination of a metal or a base with an acid: Potassium nitrate and potassium chloride are potassium salts. Now this definition does not seem familiar with our readers. This is why we must be aware of the consequences of not using our common sense to protect our health and our lives.

The most important thing to know is that you are not a Salt-water Fish, sea animals have means of controlling the amount of salt in their system, humans do not have such natural inhibitors.

USEFUL USES OF BATHING IN SALT WATER
Salt water on the skin does have its usefulness under certain conditions , it is natively used for treating eczema and dry itchy skin, pimples. it also has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties for treating some skin bacterial infections. There are far more affordable off-the-shelf remedies that perform far more efficiently than salt water for treating the ailments described above.

Beyond this common usefulness of bathing in salt water, it has serious negative side-effects that one (especially Nigerians) must be aware of

HARMFUL EFFECTS OF BATHING IN SALT WATER
Mycobacterium: Mycobacterium is a genus of Actinobacteria, given its own family, the Mycobacteriaceae. The genus includes pathogens known to cause serious diseases in mammals, including tuberculosis and leprosy.

When Salt water comes in contact with open sores or cuts, it can allow for Mycobacterium present in drainage, puddles and sea water (especially in this rainy season) to get into a host.

HARMFUL EFFECTS OF DRINKING SALT WATER
Drinking salt water is never a good idea, it can lead to sickness, dehydration, brain damage and death.

1: Water+Salt Balance in the Human Body

Many of our bodily functions require a strict balance between water and other chemicals, One of the most important chemicals is salt. The body attempts to equalize the concentration of salt with respect to total body water. When you drink salt water, your body is forced to release water from cells to counteract the surplus influx of salt. Although some claim there are cleansing benefits to drinking salt water, the negative side effects and health risks can be far too great. The unhealthy habit of abusing and overeating salt without drinking enough fresh water has led to heart disease, high blood pressure and obesity in many people. people with hypertension and heart disease or kidney problems should avoid salt in their daily diets and focus instead on drinking at least 4 liters of fresh water every day will prevent the effects of dehydration.

WHY WE SHOULDN'T ENCOURAGE SALT-DRINKING AND SALT-BATHING FOR EBOLA VIRAL DISEASE PREVENTION!

By Dr. 'Malik Haruna King

#1: IT IS DECEPTIVE: Just like eating bitter-kola for cure, drinking warm salty water (or bathing with same at night) has absolutely no proven scientific or medical basis or evidence for prevention of EVD. Truth is bitter but it's healthier than salty lies and false hope!

#2: IT IS DISTRACTING: This would distract from the momentum we are trying to create for the effective way of preventing the spread of this deadly virus. Some people might become careless and lessen their commitment to personal hygiene and environmental sanitation!

#3: IT IS DANGEROUS: Salt is powerful--it can kill! That's why for ORT (for diarrhea treatment), we tell you the exact amount of salt and sugar to put in a clearly specified amount of water! Careless drinking and bathing with salt-water, especially if done repeatedly, is NOT advisable. It also raises the blood pressure and affect the skin.

#4: IT IS DISTURBING: I know of countries that have never had a single incidence of "Ebola", but have invested millions of dollars in research, gotten possible vaccines and drugs, done trials in animals (with success ), and have everything ready in case this virus enters their country! People are dying in Nigeria; see what we (including our graduates and scientists) are believing and broadcasting!

Ebola virus disease is NOT (and has not become) airborne! Spread is by physical contact.

So make I dey baff with salt water naw, I be fish?

"APC contracted Patrick Sawyer to bring Ebola into Nigeria" - PDP

Ebola has shifted all attention away frm boko haram. This is wen we ought to be more careful.

Truth is bitter kola but it's healthier than salty lies and false hope!

why do most African think that salt and water is always the cure of any disease?



FP TODAY?
*Dancing all over the place*

The Role Of Aquaporins In Cellular Plant Water Balance

Polar localization of GFP-NIP5; 1 and GFP-BOR1 - This shows the polar localization of Green fluorescence protein tagged Nip5; 1 and BOR1 (GFP-NIP5; 1 and GFP-BOR1) at the root meristem and elongation zone. Fig G and H is not relevant for discussion in this paper. Figure A, B and C are GFP-NIP5; 1. (A), is at the meristem zone of the root, while (B and C) are the elongation zones of the root. Fig D, E and F are GFP-BOR1. (D), is the root tip or meristem zone while (E and F) are at the elongation zones of the roots. Fluorescence indicates that NIP5; 1 is localized at the outer plasma membrane (facing the soil) while the BOR1 is localized at the inner plasma membrane (facing the soil) while the BOR1 is localized at the inner plasma membrane.

Plant root structure

Root is the non-flowering part of the plant that typically lies below the surface of the soil. It functions as anchorage part of a plant, Water and inorganic nutrients absorbent, storage of foods and nutrients and encourages vegetative reproduction. The first part of the root that emerges first during germination is the radicle or primary root. In a typical cross-section of mature root, it comprises of Cortex, epidermis and the stele. The stele contains endodermis, pericycle, xylem, phloem, cambium and cortex. The phloem tissues conduct products of photosynthesis from leaves throughout plant including down to the roots. The xylem on the other hand, conducts water and minerals up from the roots through the plant. The longitudinal cross-section of a root comprises the meristematic zone (consisting of the root tip meristem and the root cap), the zone of elongation where new cell enlarges and the zone of maturation or differentiation.

A typical root structure

Arabidopsis thaliana.

Arabidopsis thaliana is a small flowering plant native to Eurasia of the family, Brassicaeaethat are used as an important toolbox in most molecular biology research. Arabidopsis thaliana has many advantages for genome analysis, including a short generation time, small sizeand large number of offspring, efficient transformation while utilizing Agrobacterium tumefaciens, availability of large number of mutant lines and a relatively small nuclear genome [AGI, 2000 and National institute of health].It has 5 chromosome and a genome, approximately 135megabasepair that was first completed by AGI in 2000.

Carl Linnaeus renamed this plant (Pilosellasiliquosa) Arabidopsis thaliana in honor of the discoverer, Johannes Thal in 1842. Study showed that is often between 2 to 25cm in height, with a basal rosette of leaves that are 0.8 to 3.5cm long and up to 1cm wide. Information about Arabidopsis and newly developed lines are contained in Arabidopsis
http://www.prestarticles.com/role-aquaporins-cellular-plant-water-balance/