Trump’s idea to inject disinfectant stuns world

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump’s inquiry over injecting people with disinfectants to guard against the coronavirus disease left medical experts and scientists across the world stunned, with many issuing warnings to not introduce bleach in the body in an attempt to kill Sars-CoV-2.

Bill Bryan, an undersecretary at the Homeland Security Department, told reporters that research showed bleach could kill the virus in saliva or respiratory fluids in five minutes and isopropyl alcohol could kill it even more quickly.

The research also appeared to show that the virus was vulnerable to heat and humidity, with direct sunlight killing it quickly. Speaking after Bryan, Trump said: “So, supposing we hit the body with a tremendous — whether it’s ultraviolet or just very powerful light — and I think you said that that hasn’t been checked, but you’re going to test it.”

“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...” Trump said.

Physicians and medical experts were aghast at the US President’s suggestions.

Reckitt Benckiser, parent company of the maker of Lysol and Dettol, said: “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).”