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Makers of Lysol Warn Against Ingesting Disinfectants Makers of Clorox and Lysol Warn Against Ingesting Bleach and Disinfectants
(about 3 hours later)
The makers of Lysol and state officials repeated warnings Thursday and Friday about the dangers of ingesting disinfectants or cleaning products as a way to treat or prevent illnesses caused by the coronavirus. Health officials, the makers of cleaning products, doctors and federal lawmakers repeated dire warnings on Friday about the dangers of ingesting disinfectants, responding to remarks by President Trump the night before about the possible medical benefits of sunlight, ultraviolet light and household disinfectants against the coronavirus.
The remarks came after President Trump in a briefing on Thursday theorized about the possible medical benefits of sunlight, ultraviolet light and household disinfectants against the coronavirus. Reckitt Benckiser, the British company that makes Lysol and Dettol, warned customers on Friday against using disinfectants as treatments, saying that because of “recent speculation and social media activity,” it had been asked about the “internal administration” of disinfectants.
Reckitt Benckiser, the British company that makes Lysol and Dettol, warned customers on Friday against using disinfectants as treatments, saying that “due to recent speculation and social media activity,” it had been asked about the “internal administration” of disinfectants.
“As a global leader in health and hygiene products, we must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route),” it said in a statement, advising people to use the products in line with guidelines.“As a global leader in health and hygiene products, we must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route),” it said in a statement, advising people to use the products in line with guidelines.
Accidents with household cleaning products appear to have sharply increased in recent weeks, according to doctors who monitor activity at poison call centers. On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported an alarming trend of growing calls to poison control centers, and a significant increase in accidental exposures to household cleaners and disinfectants. The Clorox Company said on Friday that disinfecting surfaces with bleach was one way to help slow the spread of Covid-19, citing recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But it added: “Bleach and other disinfectants are not suitable for consumption or injection under any circumstances.”
Ingesting bleach and disinfectant chemicals is extremely dangerous, said Dr. Diane P. Calello, the medical director of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System. “When people injected bleach or highly concentrated rubbing alcohol it causes massive organ damage and the blood cells in the body to basically burst,” she said. “It can definitely be a fatal event.” Accidents with household cleaning products appear to have sharply increased in recent weeks, according to doctors who monitor activity at poison call centers. On Monday, the C.D.C. reported an alarming trend of growing calls to poison control centers, and a significant increase in accidental exposures to household cleaners and disinfectants.
On Friday, the American Cleaning Institute, which represents companies in the cleaning products industry in the United States, echoed the warnings against the improper use of disinfectants. Ingesting bleach or disinfectant chemicals is extremely dangerous, said Dr. Diane P. Calello, the medical director of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System. “When people injected bleach or highly concentrated rubbing alcohol it causes massive organ damage and the blood cells in the body to basically burst,” she said. “It can definitely be a fatal event.”
On Friday, the American Cleaning Institute, which represents companies in the cleaning products industry, echoed the warnings against the improper use of disinfectants.
“Disinfectants are meant to kill germs or viruses on hard surfaces,” it said in a statement. “Under no circumstances should they ever be used on one’s skin, ingested or injected internally.”“Disinfectants are meant to kill germs or viruses on hard surfaces,” it said in a statement. “Under no circumstances should they ever be used on one’s skin, ingested or injected internally.”
Officials in Washington State, where researchers believe that hidden outbreaks of coronavirus were creeping through Seattle early this year, said Thursday night on Twitter that people should not consume laundry detergent capsules or “inject yourself with any kind of disinfectant.” Officials in Washington State, where researchers believe hidden outbreaks of coronavirus were creeping through Seattle early this year, said Thursday night on Twitter that people should not consume laundry detergent capsules or “inject yourself with any kind of disinfectant.”
“Just don’t make a bad situation worse,” the state’s emergency management authorities said.“Just don’t make a bad situation worse,” the state’s emergency management authorities said.
The message was an apparent reference to Mr. Trump’s remarks at the White House briefing on Thursday. William N. Bryan, the head of science at the Department of Homeland Security, told the briefing that the government had tested how sunlight and disinfectants — including bleach and alcohol — can kill the coronavirus on surfaces. In New York, the state health commissioner, Dr. Howard Zucker, advised people to be careful with cleaning solutions. “When it comes to bleach, these are chemicals you would not ingest,” he said at a news conference on Friday. “As we know, we make sure our kids do not go into cabinets that have any of these chemicals in them, so you need to stay away from those products.”
Mr. Trump then speculated about the possible medical application of disinfectants. And the surgeon general, Dr. Jerome M. Adams, tweeted, “A reminder to all Americans- PLEASE always talk to your health provider first before administering any treatment/ medication to yourself or a loved one.”
Mr. Trump speculated about the possible medical application of disinfectants at the White House briefing on Thursday. William N. Bryan, the head of science at the Department of Homeland Security, told reporters that the government had tested how sunlight and disinfectants — including bleach and alcohol — can kill the coronavirus on surfaces.
Mr. Trump then spoke about disinfectants.
“And then I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute — one minute — and is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning?” Mr. Trump asked. “Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that.”“And then I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute — one minute — and is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning?” Mr. Trump asked. “Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that.”
On Friday morning, the White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, said that Mr. Trump’s comments were taken out of context by the news media.On Friday morning, the White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, said that Mr. Trump’s comments were taken out of context by the news media.
“President Trump has repeatedly said that Americans should consult with medical doctors regarding coronavirus treatment, a point that he emphasized again during yesterday’s briefing,” she said.“President Trump has repeatedly said that Americans should consult with medical doctors regarding coronavirus treatment, a point that he emphasized again during yesterday’s briefing,” she said.
On Friday afternoon, Mr. Trump tried to suggest that he had been kidding with his musings the day before. “I was asking a question sarcastically to reporters like you just to see what would happen,” he told journalists in the Oval Office as he signed the latest coronavirus relief bill into law.
Doctors and manufacturers have warned for years about the risks associated with some household cleaners, and bottles of bleach and other disinfectants carry warnings saying that it is dangerous to ingest them, and potentially fatal.Doctors and manufacturers have warned for years about the risks associated with some household cleaners, and bottles of bleach and other disinfectants carry warnings saying that it is dangerous to ingest them, and potentially fatal.
In its report this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that calls to poison hotlines this year for cases involving cleaners and disinfectants rose significantly compared with the same period over the previous two years. The report charts a significant spike in March for both categories. In its report this week, the C.D.C. said that calls to poison hotlines this year for cases involving cleaners and disinfectants rose significantly compared with the same period over the previous two years. The report charts a significant spike in March for both categories.
Dr. Calello, one of the authors of the report, said on Friday that there was no evidence to suggest that any of these disinfectant chemicals, tested on nonporous surfaces like countertops, can work inside the body to kill the coronavirus or any other virus. Dr. Calello, one of the authors of the report, said on Friday that there was no evidence to suggest that any of these disinfectant chemicals, tested on nonporous surfaces like countertops, can work inside the body to kill the new coronavirus or any other virus.
The chemicals cause severe and potentially deadly damage inside a human body, she said. The chemicals cause severe and potentially deadly damage inside the human body, she said.
“There are reports, tragically, of people who either in a misinformed attempt to clean their blood, or an attempt to harm themselves, inject themselves with chemicals,” said Dr. Calello, who works regular shifts at the New Jersey poison hotline.“There are reports, tragically, of people who either in a misinformed attempt to clean their blood, or an attempt to harm themselves, inject themselves with chemicals,” said Dr. Calello, who works regular shifts at the New Jersey poison hotline.
There are no products, vaccines or drugs approved to treat or cure the coronavirus. Federal and local officials have previously spoken out against medical misinformation, particularly when it appears online or when untested products are advertised as cures for Covid-19 or other viruses and severe illnesses.There are no products, vaccines or drugs approved to treat or cure the coronavirus. Federal and local officials have previously spoken out against medical misinformation, particularly when it appears online or when untested products are advertised as cures for Covid-19 or other viruses and severe illnesses.
The Trump administration in March warned to stop selling products that claim to cure or prevent the coronavirus, including teas, essential oils, tinctures and colloidal silvers. The Trump administration in March warned against selling products that claim to cure or prevent the coronavirus, including teas, essential oils, tinctures and colloidal silvers.
But at White House briefings, Mr. Trump has issued medical advice for fighting the virus that goes well beyond scientific evidence, including about warmer temperatures and the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine. Doctors have warned that misinformation around home remedies could prove disastrous, as when an Arizona man died and his wife was hospitalized after they ingested a chemical found in hydroxychloroquine. But at White House briefings, Mr. Trump has issued medical advice for fighting the virus that goes well beyond scientific evidence, including about warmer temperatures and the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine. Doctors have warned that misinformation around home remedies could prove disastrous, as when an Arizona man died and his wife was hospitalized after they ingested a popular fish tank additive that has the same active ingredient as an anti-malaria drug.
On Thursday, Mr. Trump also asked officials about testing the effects of light on the virus. “Supposing we hit the body with a tremendous — whether it’s ultraviolet or just very powerful light,” Mr. Trump said. “And I think you said that hasn’t been checked, but we’re going to test it?” he added, turning to Mr. Bryan, the Homeland Security official. “And then I said, supposing you brought the light inside the body, either through the skin or some other way.” On Friday, the Food and Drug Administration warned against using hydroxychloroquine and another drug, chloroquine, saying that they could cause dangerous abnormalities in the heart rhythms of coronavirus patients. The agency said the drugs should be used only in clinical trials or hospitals, where patients can be closely monitored.
Several Democratic lawmakers alluded to the president’s remarks on Friday. Speaker Nancy Pelosi ridiculed Mr. Trump’s comment as she criticized his priorities for coronavirus relief.
“The president is asking people to inject Lysol into their lungs,” she said, calling it an indication that “Republicans reject science.”
Another Democratic lawmaker, Senator Bob Casey, said in a message to constituents, “Pennsylvanians, I never thought I’d need to say this, but just to be clear: Please do not drink or inject bleach.”
At the briefing on Thursday, Mr. Trump also asked officials about testing the effects of light on the virus. “Supposing we hit the body with a tremendous — whether it’s ultraviolet or just very powerful light,” Mr. Trump said. “And I think you said that hasn’t been checked, but we’re going to test it?” he added, turning to Mr. Bryan, the Department of Homeland Security official. “And then I said, supposing you brought the light inside the body, either through the skin or some other way.”
Ultraviolet lamps can harm humans if used improperly, experts warn. When Mr. Trump asked Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, whether she had heard of the success of sunlight as an effective tool against viruses, and more specifically the coronavirus, she replied, “Not as a treatment.”Ultraviolet lamps can harm humans if used improperly, experts warn. When Mr. Trump asked Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, whether she had heard of the success of sunlight as an effective tool against viruses, and more specifically the coronavirus, she replied, “Not as a treatment.”
For months, social media companies have sought to elevate responsible information about the virus and its spread, while also struggling to address the spread of misinformation, including junk science and supposed cures.
A spokesman for Twitter said on Friday that the president’s statements “do not violate our Covid-19 misinformation policy.”
Last month, Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive of Facebook, specifically mentioned a bleach “cure” as an example of “misinformation that has imminent risk of danger.”
“Things like, ‘you can cure this by drinking bleach,’” he said. “I mean, that’s just in a different class.”
Davey Alba contributed reporting.