Coronavirus: 6 myths and false advice to ignore about covid-19
New cases of coronavirus appear in more and more countries and there is no known cure to combat it.
And on social media, a series of health tips emerge, ranging from what is useless but relatively harmless to some very dangerous.
We have analyzed some of the most widespread that are shared on the internet and what science says about it.
1. garlic
Many posts that recommend eating garlic to prevent infection are shared on Facebook.
While the World Health Organization (WHO) says that while it is "a healthy food that may have some antimicrobial properties," there is no evidence that eating garlic can protect people from the new coronavirus.
In many cases, these types of remedies are not harmful in themselves, as long as evidence-based medical advice is followed. But abuses can have complex consequences.
The South China Morning Post newspaper published the story of a woman who had to receive hospital treatment because her throat became inflamed after consuming 1.5 kg of raw garlic.
In general, eating fruits and vegetables and drinking water is known to be good for staying healthy. However, there is no evidence that specific foods help fight this particular virus.
2. "Miraculous minerals"
YouTuber Jordan Sather, who has thousands of followers on different platforms, said that a "miracle mineral supplement" called MMS can "kill" the coronavirus.
Contains chlorine dioxide, a bleaching agent.
Sather and others promoted the substance even before the coronavirus outbreak, and in January he tweeted that "not only is chlorine dioxide (also known as MMS) an effective cancer cell killer, it can also kill the coronavirus."
Last year, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned about the health dangers of drinking MMS. Health authorities in other countries also issued alerts in this regard.
The FDA says that "it is not aware of any research showing that these products are safe or effective in treating any disease."
And he warns that drinking them can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and symptoms of severe dehydration.
3. Homemade hand sanitizer
Media around the world reported on a shortage of hand sanitizer gel. Washing your hands is a key way to prevent the spread of the virus.
As information about the shortage in Italy was published, recipes for homemade gel also multiplied on social networks.
But these recipes are for creating a surface cleaning disinfectant and, as the scientists pointed out, not suitable for use on the skin.
Alcohol-based hand gels generally also contain emollients, which make them gentler on the skin, in addition to an alcohol content of 60-70%.
Professor Sally Bloomfield, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, says she does not think it can be an effective product to disinfect hands in and less if it is made with vodka, which only contains 40% alcohol.
For surface cleaning, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) They say the most common household disinfectants should be effective.
4. Colloidal silver
The use of colloidal silver to combat the coronavirus emerged in the program of the American evangelist Jim Bakker.
Colloidal silver is made up of small particles of metal suspended in liquid.
A guest on the show claimed that the liquid kills some coronavirus strains in 12 hours (although he admitted that it had not yet been tested on Covid-19).
The idea that it could be an effective treatment for coronavirus was widely shared on Facebook, particularly by groups that are deeply suspicious of conventional medical advice.
Proponents of colloidal silver claim that it can treat all kinds of conditions, act as an antiseptic, and support the immune system.
But the US health authorities They say there is no evidence that this type of silver is effective in curing disease.
More importantly, it could cause serious side effects, such as kidney damage, seizures, and argyria, a condition that causes the skin to turn blue.
Some of those promoting the substance on social media found that their posts now generate a warning from Facebook's data verification service.
5. Drink water every 15 minutes
A post, copied and pasted by various Facebook accounts, quotes a "Japanese doctor" who recommends drinking water every 15 minutes to remove any viruses that may have entered the mouth.
An Arabic version has been shared more than 250,000 times.
Professor Bloomfield says there is no evidence that this is of any use.
Airborne viruses enter the body through the respiratory tract when inhaled. Some of them can enter your mouth, but drinking water constantly will not prevent you from contracting the virus.
However, drinking water and staying hydrated is generally good medical advice.
6. Heat and avoid ice cream
Some tips on social media suggest that heat kills the virus and recommend everything from drinking hot water to taking hot baths or using hair dryers.
A publication, copied and pasted by dozens of social media users in different countries, and falsely attributed to UNICEF, claims that drinking hot water and sun exposure kill the virus, and says ice cream should be avoided.
Charlotte Gornitzka of UNICEF says: "A recent erroneous message on the internet ... purporting to be a communication from UNICEF seems to indicate that avoiding ice cream and other cold foods may help prevent the onset of the disease. This is, of course , completely false".
"We know that the influenza virus does not survive long outside the body during the summer, but we do not yet know how heat affects the new coronavirus."
"Trying to warm up your body or expose yourself to the sun, presumably to avoid the virus, is completely ineffective," according to Professor Bloomfield.
Once the virus enters your body, there is no way to kill it: your body just has to fight it.
Outside the body, "temperatures of around 60 degrees are needed to kill the virus," says Professor Bloomfield.
Washing bedding or towels at 60 degrees is a good idea, as this can kill any viruses on the fabric. But it is not a good option to wash your skin.
And taking a hot bath or drinking hot liquids will not change the actual body temperature, which remains stable unless you are already sick.
