There are a few Americans who are misusing cleaners and disinfectants in the aim to prevent getting infected with COVID-19, surveys reveal. This misuse only shows that the authorities may need to intensify information dissemination in lieu of the virus.
According to the report on Gizmodo and LiveScience, washing food using bleach, disinfectants, and other household cleaning agents with a human's bare skin, especially when ingested or inhaled, will have negative risks for the health. This is part of a survey the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did.
The lead author of the CDC survey revealed that this was done after a noticeable increase in calls to the poison control centers for exposure regarding disinfectants and cleaners during this pandemic and crisis.
President Trump's word
Why are the Americans doing this? They may have a notion that ingesting these disinfectants will shield them from the virus. But, according to experts, this is wrong.
United States President Donald Trump in late April also did ask during one of the coronavirus task force meetings whether ingesting these cleaning agents will help them clear the disease. The proponent of the all-American platform horrified the health experts. They answered that it is not safe to drink or ingest these products.
The survey says that around 39% of people have reportedly been into this high-risk practice, including using bleach to clean their food or misting their bodies with disinfectant sprays. About four percent even gargled with diluted bleach components, disinfectants, and soapy water.
A quarter of the people in the survey reported experiencing a bad health effect in the previous month from making these habits.
Right information
The CDC also noted that people must adhere only to official COVID-19 prevent messages that focus on hygiene and regular cleaning. These measures include instructions on how to use these cleaners and disinfectants properly. Furthermore, household owners must also keep these away from children.
The health organization pointed out certain limitations to the survey, saying it was "for a single point in time and was opt-in" more than being a "random sampling."
"Covid-19 prevention messages should continue to emphasize evidence-based, safe practices such as frequent hand hygiene and frequent cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces. These messages should include specific recommendations for the safe use of cleaners and disinfectants," CDC pointed out.
The responses to the survey focused on demographics in the United States, but the agency admitted it was difficult and became a challenge for them to represent the broader U.S. population in its entirety, and accurately.
Other limitations and margins of error include bias on social desirability and ongoing changes in public opinion over time.
Updates
More cases are being added to the number of COVID-19 infections as the world faces the pandemic. To date, there are now almost two million cases and more than 110,000 deaths due to the virus. The global death toll is now at 400,000, statistics from John Hopkins University stated.
