WHO warns garlic, salt water don’t protect against coronavirus

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that eating garlic and regularly rinsing the nose with saline solution will not guard against contracting the coronavirus infection (2019-nCoV).

Information obtained from WHO’s website on Monday, dispelled various myths and rumours surrounding the coronavirus that can potentially harm the public’s health.

WHO refuted some of the myths and rumours, noting that garlic is a healthy food that may have some antimicrobial properties, stating that “however, there is no evidence from the current outbreak that eating garlic has protected people from 2019-nCoV.”

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Also, the global body noted that there is no evidence that regularly rinsing the nose with saline solution has protected people from the coronavirus infection.

It further warned that eating or putting on sesame oil does not block the 2019-nC0V from entering the body, adding that sesame oil does not kill the coronavirus.

“There are some chemical disinfectants that can kill the infection on surface. These include bleach, chlorine based disinfectants, solvents, 75 per cent ethanol, per acetic acid and chloroform.

“However, they have little or no impact on the virus if you put them on the skin or under your nose. It can even be dangerous to put these chemicals on your skin,” it said.

The organisation stressed that there is no evidence that gargling mouthwash can protect people from the 2019-nCoV infection.

“Some brands of mouthwash can eliminate certain microbes for a few minutes in the saliva in your mouth. However, this does not mean they protect you from 2019-nCoV infection,” the world health body said.

WHO also noted that it is safe to receive packages from China, adding that such people were not at risk of contracting the coronavirus through packages.

“From previous analysis, we know that coronavirus does not survive long on objects, such as objects or packages,” it said.

Also, it said that vaccines against pneumonia such as Pneumococcal vaccine and Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) vaccine, do not provide protection against the new virus.

“The virus is so new and different that it needs its own vaccine. Researchers are trying to develop a vaccine against 2019-nCoV and WHO is supporting the efforts.

“These vaccines are not effective against 2019-nCoV. Vaccination against respiratory illnesses is highly recommended to protect your health,’’ the health organisation said.