Author Topic: Trump suggests injecting disinfectant to kill coronavirus (Read 2059 times)

hubag bohol · « **on:** April 24, 2020, 06:25:29 PM »

Trump suggests injecting disinfectant to kill coronavirus. Here's why he's wrong
Disinfectants, like bleach and isopropyl alcohol, are toxic and should not be consumed, ingested or injected to fight COVID-19.

Jackson Ryan
April 23, 2020 10:22 p.m. PT
https://www.cnet.com/news/trump-suggests-injecting-disinfectant-to-kill-coronavirus-heres-why-hes-wrong/

During a White House press briefing on Thursday, president Donald Trump floated the idea of injecting disinfectant or using ultraviolet or "very powerful" light inside the body as a coronavirus remedy. Disinfectants are toxic chemicals that are poisonous to the human body and should not be injected. Similarly, ultraviolet light contains energy powerful enough to damage DNA.

"I see the disinfectant that knocks it out in a minute," said Trump, turning to Deborah Birx, the coronavirus response coordinator in the White House task force and Bill Bryan, head of the science and technology directorate at the Department of Homeland Security. "Is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning?" he asked.

Both claims were immediately criticized by doctors and physicians.

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hubag bohol · « **Reply #1 on:** April 24, 2020, 06:26:12 PM »

The president's claims came after a short presentation by Bryan which showed a slide discussing how commonly used disinfectants such as bleach and isopropyl alcohol can work to kill the virus. These disinfectants are only useful in killing the coronavirus on surfaces, outside the human body, like kitchen counter tops and tables. They are toxic. They should never be ingested or injected.

"They're not meant for internal consumption," says Ian Musgrave, a pharmacologist and senior lecturer at the University of Adelaide. "Things like disinfectant and bleach are very good at killing viruses and bacteria but they're also very good at killing our own cells."

Musgrave points out the purpose of a drug is to "specifically" target viruses and bacteria without doing damage to the human body. Disinfectants and UV lights are not drugs. "These things can't tell the difference between viruses and your own cells," he says.

You cannot disinfect your body from the inside.

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hubag bohol · « **Reply #2 on:** April 24, 2020, 06:26:42 PM »

Many disinfectants, like household bleach, can create extensive organ damage in the gastrointestinal tract and throat if they are ingested in high amounts. Musgrave notes this is "incredibly painful and not pleasant." Exposure to vapors can cause lung injury. Injection of disinfectants can be particularly damaging -- as shown in a case study published in the journal Toxicology Observation in 2013 -- where a patient's blood cells were ripped apart by household bleach and a renal transplant was required.

The White House briefing Thursday also included the notion "sunlight impedes virus transmission" and Trump appeared to tout ultraviolet or "very powerful light" as a potential treatment option if it was brought "inside the body". The World Health Organization's current advice on UV light lamps is they "should not be used to sterilize hands or other areas of the skin." Ultraviolet light -- like that emitted by the sun and other sources -- is known to be damaging to the skin and is the cause for practically all skin cancers.

Both UV and disinfectants should only be used for cleaning surfaces.

"If you want to disinfect surfaces, ultraviolet is very good at disinfecting surfaces," says Musgrave, "and it's great to rub down the your benches and tabletops with 70% alcohol" before reiterating they are not meant to be ingested.

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hubag bohol · « **Reply #3 on:** April 24, 2020, 06:27:38 PM »

The best ways to protect yourself from COVID-19 remain:

Washing your hands frequently
Social distancing
Avoiding touching your mouth, eyes, nose
Practice good respiratory hygiene

There are no FDA approved treatments or vaccines for dealing with a COVID-19 infection. Instead, doctors manage symptoms of the disease as best they can. There are dozens of potential treatment options being explored across the globe, but none have passed safety and efficacy trials in humans.

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hubag bohol · « **Reply #4 on:** April 24, 2020, 06:33:04 PM »

During a White House press briefing on Thursday, president Donald Trump floated the idea of injecting disinfectant or using ultraviolet or "very powerful" light inside the body as a coronavirus remedy.

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