FIGHTING AGAINST THE FLOATING RUMORS

Fighting against an unseen enemy. Photo: Dhaya Eddine Bentaleb-Unsplash

By LB THAPA

At a trying time when the world is passing through a difficult phase of time, social media is flooded with the news of several possible cures of corona virus (COVID-19). Most of these information on social media are not only misleading but also life threatening. Unfortunately, because of such concocted information, many people have become severely ill or even lost their lives.

In recent times, there is a video post on social media that claimed that garlic has medical properties that can kill corona virus. Its impact was immediate on people. Many people rushed to market and began purchasing garlic---leading to increase the price of garlic that was already expensive.

Without doubt, garlic is an excellent spice that is loaded with several medicinal properties. Therefore, garlic consumption can be beneficial for human health. However, scientifically there is no evidence to confirm that consumption of garlic can kill corona virus. So it is a complete myth to say that garlic can kill corona virus. But we can see that out of panic many people are still buying garlic and consuming it in their daily diets.

When it is not confirmed whether consumption of garlic can kill corona virus or not, but it is certain that overdose of garlic can lead to serious medical complications. Thus, it is advised that only moderate consumption of garlic is good for overall health. But overdose of garlic in believing to kill corona virus is completely misleading and untrue.

It is widely believed that many spices and vegetables have medicinal properties, but very little is known about their effects against different viruses. May be in future more research will be conducted and the world will know more about vegetables and spices and their effectiveness against viruses.

As soon as corona virus increased its menacing threats across the world, more people started using sanitizers to keep their hands free from all sorts of nasty viruses and bacteria. It is a known fact that our hands are the carrier of many invisible bacteria and viruses. Thus, hands should be kept clean all the times. Owing to sudden surge in the demands for sanitizers, all stocks of sanitizers are sold out and most of the medical shops are now virtually devoid of sanitizers.

In a situation one like this, nowadays we can see many videos being circulated on facebook, where it is advised that how sanitizers can be made at home---without knowing their harmful effects on human skin. Let’s not forget that whenever two compounds are mixed together, there will be a chemical reaction. Such reaction must be tested in the laboratory and it should be assured how far they are safe or unsafe for human utility. However, the kind of homemade sanitizers shown on social media have not been tested in any laboratories. Therefore, nothing is known how they can affect human skins. These types of homemade sanitizers might keep our hands free from virus, but this is also true that such mixture might have some detrimental effects on our skins.

Drinking enough water keeps human body hydride and therefore doctors always advice to drink plenty of water every day. But nowadays on social media, there are many videos have gone viral. They advise people to sip water in every 15 minute to keep oneself free from corona virus.

According to the claim of such videos, corona virus remains in throat for a few days before infecting people. Therefore, if lukewarm water is sipped in every 15 minute, this will wash down corona virus to the digestive system, where digestive juices neutralize corona virus and later body excretes them out of the system.

However, medical experts say that there is no evidence whatsoever to confirm that by drinking water in every 15 minute can wash down viruses to stomach. And later they are flushed out of the body. Truth has it that most of the airborne viruses directly come to the contact with human lungs through respiration. From lungs, they enter into tiny cells and from there they get into small blood tissues and infect people. 

In many videos on social media, it is advised that keeping human body warm is the sure way to get protection from corona virus. In those video posts, they can be seen advising people to drink lukewarm water, take hot shower and sitting under hot sunlight. According to these videos, corona virus is ineffective in the wormer body. Some other video posts can be seen suggesting not taking any cold things including ice cream or cold drinks.

One such video even referred to UNICEF. But later UNICEF released a press note and discarded any such news where they had advised people for taking lukewarm water and avoiding ice cream to get protected from corona virus.

In fact, there is no scientific evidence that can prove that sitting under sunlight for prolonged time can kill corona virus. However, if someone sits under sunlight for long time, this might have damaging effect on human health.

The fact is that until now there is no certified vaccine made against corona virus. But it is certain that by taking hot shower and gulping down plenty of water cannot wash out corona virus from our bodies.

There is one more video on social media. It claims that doctors have found the traces of Brufen in the people who had been killed by corona virus. The video further claims that corona virus thrives in people who are taking Brufen regularly. “Avoid Brufen altogether to protect yourselves from corona virus” suggusts the video.

The fact is that clinically there is no evidence to establish any adverse link between Brufen and corona virus. So there is no relationship between Brufen and corona virus. Thus, the claim that those people who regularly take Brufen are prone to suffer from corona virus is completely false and baseless.

In a very recent case, many people in Iran consumed toxic methanol thinking of methanol helps killing corona virus. The idea of consuming methanol came after a video went viral on social media. It claimed that taking alcohol is good way to kill corona virus. Without consulting any doctor, these people had consumed such poisonous substance and succumbed to death. Unfortunately, in this event, over 300 people had lost their lives and many survivors became blind permanently.

At a time of crisis when all people should be united to fight against the pandemic, some unscrupulous people, by disseminating falsehood, put innocent people’s lives in jeopardy. Only governments’ efforts are not enough to contain such a pandemic. Every sane citizen of the world should understand his/her role to play at such time of crisis.   

Social media is a platform to inform people by giving right information. Any propagating of falsehood will not only put people in problem but sometimes it could be disastrous as well.   

Thank you very much for reading this article. I hope you liked this article. I will be glad if you take little time and make a comment about this article. Your comment is highly appreciated.

LB Thapa is a freelance writer and author. 

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