There are several falsified and unproven medical products and methods that claim to diagnose, prevent and cure COVID-19. Falsified medication are unauthorized, fake medicines, that are being sold in the pretext of offering cure for COVID-19. They may contain wrong ingredients or the right ingredient in wrong amounts.[1] As of March 2020, the World Health Organization does not recommend any medicines to treat or cure COVID-19, although research is underway in many countries, including the Solidarity Trial spearheaded by WHO.[2] WHO has requested member countries to immediately notify them if any falsified products are discovered.[2] No vaccine is currently in use for COVID-19 prevention.[3]
Prevention
- Products advertised as "Virus Shut Out Protection" from Japan which are worn around ones neck.[4]
- A counterfeit vaccine containing a mix of amphetamines, cocaine and nicotine, priced at US$300 was on sale on the Dark Web against COVID-19.[5]
- Over 34,000 counterfeit surgical masks — which may have been touted for as coronavirus prevention — were seized by Europol.[6]
- 'consuming boiled ginger with an empty stomach can kill the coronavirus',[7]
- 'drinking lemon with water can be used to prevent the coronavirus and cancer, as it increases vitamin C levels',[8]
- 'hot saunas and hair dryers can kill the coronavirus',[9]
- 'an ancient Sri Lankan drink can prevent the coronavirus'[10]
- 'Turmeric, salt, antiseptic and LifeBuoy brand soap'[11][12]
- UV-C light, chlorine, and high (over 56 °C) temperatures can be used on humans to kill the coronavirus.[13]
- 'gargling salt water, drinking hot liquids like tea and avoiding ice cream can stop the transmission of COVID-19'[12]
- Red soap is more germicidal than soaps of other colors and white handkerchiefs can cause a 'harmful effect' on coronavirus.[14]
- Homeopathic medicine Arsenicum album is claimed as an "add on" to prevent COVID-19.[15]
- One should stay at home on particular days when helicopters spray disinfectant over homes for killing off COVID-19[16][17]
- Making masks out of wet-wipes was suggested as an alternative to surgical masks.[18]
- Hand sanitizer may be prepared at home for preventing COVID-19, by mixing rum, bleach and fabric softener.[19]
- Tito's Vodka can be used in an effective homemade hand sanitizer.[20]
- Exposure to sunlight, drinking warm water or heating to 26–27 °C (79–81 °F) will kill the virus. UNICEF officials refuted the false claims that they released coronavirus prevention guidelines, and the afromentioned claims were included in the fake claims supposedly released by the UNICEF. [21]
- A Twitter post claiming that scientists from the "Australian Medical University" had developed a vaccine for the coronavirus. It accepted 0.1 Bitcoin as payment for a vaccination kit and promised shipping in 5-10 days. It was later removed.[22]
- Homeopathic medicine 'Influenza complex' was marketed as a preventive measure for COVID-19.[23]
Diagnosis
- Counterfeit testing kits, which were originally used for testing HIV and monitoring glucose levels, were touted as for coronavirus diagnosis.[6][24]
- Holding one's breath for 10 seconds was claimed to be an effective self-test for the coronavirus.[25]
Treatment
Naturopathy
- Snake oil, a traditional Chinese medicine was advertised by the Xinhua News Agency as being able to treat the coronavirus. In the US and China, the product sold out in stores across the country.[26][27]
- Indian politician Swami Chakrapani claimed that drinking cow urine and applying cow dung on the body could cure coronavirus. He also stated that only Indian cows must be used.[28][29]
- Consuming garlic, ginger and onions circulated as a preventive measure against COVID-19 on Facebook.[30]
- Steam inhalation was suggested as a cure for coronavirus infection that circulated on Facebook.[31][32]
- Juice of bittergourd, a vegetable used in traditional medicine, was suggested as a cure for COVID-19 on social media.[33]
- Drinking water every 15 minutes was claimed to prevent coronavirus infection.[34]
- Claims of neem leaves or Azadirachta indica as remedies for COVID-19 were circulated in India.[35]
- Bananas were claimed to be able to strengthen the immune system and prevent and cure COVID-19.[36][37]
- Taking six deep breaths and then coughing by covering one's mouth was circulated as a treatment for COVID-19 infection in social media, including by celebrities.[38]
- Claims circulated on social media that Dr Li Wenliang had documented that since tea contained the stimulants methylxanthine, theobromine and theophylline, it was capable of warding off the virus.[39][40]
- Posts on social media claimed that volcanic ash from the eruption of the Taal Volcano on January 12, 2020 in the Philippines was the cause of low infection rates in the country, stating that it could kill the virus and had "anti-viral" and "disinfectant qualities".[41]
- A Thai media website stated that andrographis paniculata could boost the immune systems and relieve symptoms of coronavirus.[42]
- Claims from the Philippines circulated that sap from tinospora crispa plants could serve as an antibiotic against the coronavirus when used as an eye drop. It also made the claim that the coronavirus is from the skin and crawls to the eyes.[43]
- Claims originating from China circulated, stating that saline solutions could kill the coronavirus.[44]
- Industrial methanol was claimed to cure the coronavirus, with Iran reporting nearly 600 deaths and 3,000 hospitalized from ingesting methanol across the Islamic Republic as of April 8, 2020.[45][46]
Magical cure
- A YouTuber claimed that 'a miracle mineral solution', which effectively only contained chlorine dioxide can 'wipe out' coronavirus. The FDA has warned that drinking chlorine dioxide can cause serious health problems.[47]
- A person living in California marketed pills for curing coronavirus, although the contents of the pill were not made public. He was arrested for attempted fraud, which carries up to 20 years of prison.[48]
- Cocaine was projected as a cure for the coronavirus.[47] When this news appeared on social media, Facebook flagged this as misinformation[49] and French officials were required to release an official statement confirming that cocaine could not cure the virus.[50]
- Claims that colloidal silver solution can kill over 650 pathogens including coronavirus was busted. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health warned on their website against taking colloidal silver as dietary supplement. Seven warning letters were filed to companies for selling fraudulent products.[51] Preacher Jim Bakker had been selling and claiming that his colloid silver (and only his) can be used to treat COVID-19.[52]
- Toothpastes, dietary supplements and creams were being sold illegally in the US, with claims that they could cure coronavirus infection.[53] Alex Jones was directed by the USFDA to cease promoting these products as a cure.[52]
- Celebrity chef Pete Evans claimed that a device called the BioCharger NG Subtle Energy Platform, costing US$14,990 could cure the coronavirus. He faced backlash, taking down his advertisement after the Australian Medical Association dismissed the product as a "fancy light machine".[54][52] The Australian distributors, Hydrogen Technologies Pty Ltd, stated the device would help "open the airways of Coronavirus victims by reducing the inflammation it causes in the lungs" as well as other unproven therapeutic claims.[55]
- Televangelist Kenneth Copeland had urged followers to touch their televisions as a means of vaccination by proxy, and also attempted to exorcise COVID-19 on at least three occasions by summoning "the wind of God".[52]
Non-evidence based drugs
- In March 2020, the US President Donald Trump stated that chloroquine, the anti-malarial drug had been approved by the US Food and Drugs Administration for treating COVID-19. The FDA later clarified that it has not approved any therapeutics or drugs to treat COVID-19, but that studies were underway to see if chloroquine could be effective in treatment of COVID-19.[56] Following his claim, panic buying of chloroquine was reported from many countries in Africa and South Asia.[57]
- News circulated in Iraq that drugs discovered by Iraqi pharmaceutical company, Pioneer had discovered that hydroxychloroquine sulphate, azithromycin, and zitroneer can cure COVID-19 and these drugs would be made available free of charge. The company later clarified that they had not attempted to find a cure for COVID-19.[58]
References
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- ^ a b "Falsified medical products, including in vitro diagnostics, that claim to prevent, detect, treat or cure COVID-19" (PDF). World Health Organization. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 6, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ Spinney, Laura (April 3, 2020). "When will a coronavirus vaccine be ready?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ Diaz, Alejandro (March 25, 2020). "Unsubstantiated claims to protect against viruses threaten public health". epa.gov. US EPA. Archived from the original on April 16, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- ^ "Dark web drug marketplace bans coronavirus 'vaccine' sales". The Independent. April 3, 2020. Archived from the original on April 5, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ a b Osborne, Charlie. "Europol eradicates criminal gangs flogging fake coronavirus medicine, surgical masks". ZDNet. Archived from the original on March 23, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ "Doctors refute misleading online claim that consuming boiled ginger can cure novel coronavirus infections". AFP Fact Check. February 13, 2020.
- ^ "False claims that drinking water with lemon can prevent COVID-19 circulate online". AFP Fact Check. March 10, 2020.
- ^ "Hot air from saunas, hair dryers won't prevent or treat COVID-19". AFP Fact Check. March 19, 2020.
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- ^ "Indian youth swear by turmeric, crave for Lifebuoy to keep COVID-19 at bay". The Week. March 13, 2020.
- ^ a b "Health authorities warn of false COVID-19 prevention tips online". AFP Fact Check. April 2, 2020. Archived from the original on April 8, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
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- ^ "Fact or Fiction: Tito's Vodka can be used in hand sanitizer?". KGTV. March 10, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
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((cite news)): Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ Harvey, Dr Ken (April 14, 2020). "COVID-19 Scams: Hydrogen Technologies Pty Ltd". Medreach Pty Ltd. Hawthorn, Vic. Archived from the original on April 15, 2020.
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