THE label on the bottle of Dettol, a brand sold in the United Kingdom and other countries worldwide reads that the disinfectant can cure Human coronavirus.
But the reports that Dettol can cure Covid-19 is circulating fast and wide on social media, especially through the WhatsApp platform.
But can Dettol actually cure coronaviru?Findings
Although it is true that Dettol disinfectant can cure coronavirus, however, it can only cure Human coronavirus and not 2019 novel coronavirus.
The Citizen quoting African Check reported that Kate Wikilson while fact-checking the claims of Dettol curing coronavirus said there is a difference between COVID-19 and Human coronavirus.
According to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), “Human coronavirus usually causes mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses, like the common cold”.
Although it shares some of the same symptoms as the COVID-19, Human coronavirus is not lethal like the 2019 novel coronavirus.
Dettol in a response to claims that the disinfectant can cure coronavirus said the virus is relatively new and as such the COVID-19 has never been tested using the product.
“This is a new strain of coronavirus never seen before in humans so is not yet available for testing with our products. We continue to work with our partners to ensure that we have the latest understanding of the virus and will be testing our product range once health authorities make the strain available,” Dettol noted.
As at the time of filing this report, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that there has not been an identifiable cure for the deadly virus that has claimed more than 3000 lives worldwide.
Lukman Abolade is an Investigative reporter with The ICIR. Reach out to him via labolade@icirnigeria.org, on twitter @AboladeLAA and FB @Correction94
This article is unscientific and very misleading. There is a difference between Coronavirus as a virus (a living thing) and coronavirus as a disease. You don’t cure Coronavirus or CoVid-19 (the virus), you kill it, and Dettol can achieve just that (on surfaces outside the body).
Conversely, you don’t KILL an infection, you CURE it. Hence, Coronavirus or CoVid-19 infection (as a disease) is a different ball game altogether. You cannot kill the virus or cure the infection in your body by drinking Dettol. You will only end up poisoning yourself. Dettol is an antiseptic/disinfectant for external use on the skin or surfaces. It is not a drug to be taken. Your body is not deigned to handle it and it won’t migrate harmlessly in your blood and round your body looking for the virus to kill wherever they are located.
Seek your health advice from qualified medical personnel only.
These are all marketing gimmicks…
Why all this was not mentioned in bottles mgf before the outbreak of coronavirus…
Just to increase sales…