There are different myths about COVID-19 which generally shake your mental equilibrium and may expose to pandemic. Please share your views.
A virus is not yet known the different effects it has on humans. Every day you hear about a new thing. I think that the virus has developed itself to affect all vital body systems and hitting natural immunity.
400 people died in one day, means 400 families lost some life in one day due to Corona, Governor Coumo of New York state said it is good news since the death rate is less than yesterday
Please take a look at this useful link.
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters
You may follow the link:
https://africacenter.org/spotlight/five-myths-about-coronavirus/
One of the myths about COVID-19 is that individuals below a certain age group are totally exempt from having the virus and are not contagious, especially children. But parents and grandparents should be aware that small children, adolescents, and young adults are testing positive for COVID-19 without showing any symptoms at all! And adults can be infected by COVID-19 positive children.
Another myth about COVID-19 is that domestic pets, including dogs and especially cats, are exempt from having the virus. Dogs and especially cats are testing positive for COVID-19. As of today, April 27, 2020, scientists do not yet know whether or not humans can be infected by dogs and/or cats by direct contact. They do say to wash thoroughly with soap and hot water any time a person comes in contact, holding touching and patting, animals and birds.
Another myth about COVID-19 is that the only way to detect the presence of COVID-19 is through different modes of testing. Currently, certain breeds of dogs are being trained to detect individuals who are COVID-19 positive but do not yet show any symptoms. These trained dogs will be working in airports and similar large-scale crowded places in the near future.
You may follow the link:
https://africacenter.org/spotlight/five-myths-about-coronavirus/
Deae Dr. Kumar!
I think for me there is no point anymore to search for examples, cases etc., the previous answers above have already pointed to the most important sources. In my view the most important task now is to have in-depth insight to the facts about covid-19, so that in the future no more confusion could emerge on to the markets:
1) COVID-19 FACTS (2020). "About COVID-19" 2020, COVID-19 Facts is a Public Health Information campaign brought to you by RB, the makers of Dettol & Lysol Available at:
https://www.covid-19facts.com/
2) VISWANATH LAB (2020). "Myths Vs. Facts" HARVARD T.H. CHEN School ogf Public Health Copyright © The President and Fellows of Harvard College, Available at:
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/viswanathlab/myths-vs-facts/
Yours sincerely, Bulcsu Szekely
In addition is that, here is the useful link that we need to aware of it,
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters
https://www.itnewsafrica.com/2020/04/8-most-common-covid-19-myths-debunked/
Very interesting, Nancy Ann Watanabe but is there any trusted sources or available studies about these trained dogs to detect COVID-19 positive persons without symptoms?
An unknown agent spread rapidly, similarly unknown agent will resolve soon.
Myth:- The virus is man-made/&/ Some people say that the virus does not exist. And Harml kills the virus.
Please see the link below.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misinformation_related_to_the_2019%E2%80%9320_coronavirus_pandemic
COVID-19 dead-bodies are being believed as more potential source of spread than the alive! Strange!!
Fateh-Eddine Boumendjel , / Thank you for your question re: COVID-19 dogs. Here is an article on the experimental scientific training of COVID-19 detecting dogs:
Can dogs detect COVID-19? Canines in training to sniff out virus
📷AFP•April 22, 2020
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Canines can detect subtle changes in skin temperature, potentially making them useful in determining if a person has a fever
Canines can detect subtle changes in skin temperature, potentially making them useful in determining if a person has a fever (AFP Photo/Chris DELMAS)
Milton Keynes (United Kingdom) (AFP) - Can dogs detect COVID-19? A British charity believes so, and has begun training canines to sniff out the coronavirus following previous screening success with various illnesses.
Medical Detection Dogs, set up in 2008 to harness dogs' sharp sense of smell to detect human diseases, started working on the project late last month.
In its training room in Milton Keynes, in central England, the dogs are being intensively trained to sniff out samples of the virus, and indicate when they have found it to receive a treat.
The approach is based on a belief that each disease triggers a distinct odour, which canines are uniquely well-placed to smell.
The charity has previously worked with its dogs to detect cancers, Parkinson's disease and bacterial infections using samples taken from patients.
"We believe dogs can detect COVID-19 and will be able to screen hundreds of people very, very rapidly so we know who needs to be tested and isolated," Claire Guest, founder and chief executive of Medical Detection Dogs, told AFP.
"We have evidence that dogs can detect bacterias and other diseases, so we believe that taking this project forward will make a huge difference to the ability to control COVID-19 spread."
Guest is working with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Durham University in northeast England -- the same team that recently collaborated to show dogs can be trained to detect malaria.
James Logan, head of the LSHTM's disease control department, said that project demonstrated dogs can smell odours from humans with "extremely high accuracy".
He added there was "a very high chance" that they would be able to detect COVID-19 in a similar way and potentially "revolutionise our response" to the disease.
The team is aiming to train the dogs over a six-week period to help provide the "rapid, non-invasive diagnosis" tool.
Canines can also detect subtle changes in skin temperature, potentially making them useful in determining if a person has a fever.
Story continues
Fateh-Eddine Boumendjel , / Here is another article on COVID-19 detecting dogs:
Can Dogs Be Trained to Sniff COVID-19?
Researchers are training dogs to sniff out the COVID-19 virus.
Posted Apr 22, 2020
📷Source: dog-4958432_1920 Pixabay Scottslm
They say the dog is man’s best friend, but dogs may also be our best hope when it comes to solving the current COVID-19 testing crisis.
Many experts believe that in order to reopen the economy and return to a sense of normalcy, widespread testing must occur. But testing supplies are in short supply. U.S. states are currently competing not just with other states but with countries worldwide to get access to limited COVID-19 testing supplies, including cotton swabs and chemical agents. But like a scene out of Lassie, here come dogs to the rescue.
Researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) are currently training medical detection dogs to sniff out COVID-19 in humans. The training is expected to be completed within a month and if successful, a single dog would be able to sniff 750 people per hour, or up to 5,000 people a day.
Although proof of concept is still needed to demonstrate that dogs can sniff out the COVID-19 virus, there are good reasons to assume this will be the case. In the past, dog sniffers have been used to detect cancer, Parkinson’s, and even malaria. As James Logan, head of the Department of Disease Control at LSHTM stated, “We know diseases have odors—including respiratory diseases such as influenza—and that those odors are in fact quite distinct. There is a very, very good chance that COVID-19 has a specific odor, and if it does I am really confident that the dogs would be able to learn that smell and detect it.”
If this is true, the use of sniffer dogs as a diagnostic tool could revolutionize the battle against the virus. Once trained, these sniffer dogs could be placed at ports of entry to identify infected travelers entering the country. They could also be used at other major public spaces—like screening children/teachers at schools or medical staff at hospitals—to identify infected individuals who require self-quarantine. Sniffer dogs would present a fast, effective, non-invasive, and cost-effective way to identify infected people, including those who are asymptomatic. In turn, this would allow officials to reserve the actual testing kits for situations in which they are most needed.
Dogs have already been serving us well during the pandemic. Cities like L.A. and New York have seen pet adoption increase by 70% since the pandemic started and many of us are turning to our pets for comfort during these stressful times. But if this training program is successful, man’s best friend may also be a vital weapon in our battle against the pandemic.
Click here to learn more about Jasper the Cocker Spaniel, Digby the Labradoodle, and the other dogs involved in this initial training study
About the Author
📷
Melissa Burkley, Ph.D., is a psychologist and author of both fiction and non-fiction.
Online: Personal Webpage, Facebook, LinkedIn
Cocaine cures the coronavirus.
https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/a-fake-claim-that-cocaine-cures-the-coronavirus-is-spreading-online-and-the-french-government-has-been-forced-to-warn-people-that-it-wont/articleshow/74553851.cms
Fateh-Eddine Boumendjel , The myth is that laboratory testing is the only way to find out if the COVID-19 infection is present. Here is a third article about the employment of dogs trained to detect COVID-19 in large crowded places:
MEDICAL NEWS NEWSLETTER
Could dogs help detect COVID-19?
A team of researchers from the United Kingdom is putting forth an intriguing proposition: What if dogs could help detect COVID-19?
Researchers from the U.K. believe that experts could train dogs to ‘sniff out’ COVID-19.
Late last month, a team of researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), the registered charity Medical Detection Dogs, and Durham University, all in the U.K., announced an intriguing new initiative.
The team wants to explore the potential of using dogs to detect COVID-19 in people who may have developed the disease.
This idea came from the fact that canines are very adept at picking up on subtle signs of illness thanks to their acute sense of smell.
Stay informed with live updates on the current COVID-19 outbreak and visit our coronavirus hub for more advice on prevention and treatment.
In fact, some researchers have even suggested that dogs can detect the presence of lung cancer in clinical samples, and that they may be better at it than doctors’ “most advanced technology.”
Also, the same research team that kick-started the current initiative has found that dogs are capable of “sniffing out” infectious diseases, specifically malaria.
“Our previous work demonstrated that dogs can detect odors from humans with a malaria infection with extremely high accuracy — above the World Health Organization [WHO] standards for a diagnostic,” says Prof. James Logan, head of the Department of Disease Control at LSHTM.
Dogs ‘could revolutionize’ diagnostics
The researchers are currently crowdfunding their initiative to try to train medical detection dogs to screen people for COVID-19.
The scientists acknowledge the fact that it is unclear whether or not COVID-19 is at all detectable in a person’s body odor. However, based on their knowledge of other respiratory conditions, they hypothesize that it is.
“It’s early days for COVID-19 odor detection. We do not know if COVID-19 has a specific odor yet, but we know that other respiratory diseases change our body odor so there is a chance that it does,” explains Prof. Logan.
“And if it does dogs will be able to detect it. This new diagnostic tool could revolutionize our response to COVID-19.” – Prof. James Logan
The researchers propose that specially trained medical detection dogs could supplement the effort to screen for COVID-19 in the long run.
Trained dogs may be able to sniff up to 250 people per hour, providing a fast and noninvasive screening method.
Dogs may ‘sniff out’ asymptomatic cases
The researchers explain that the dogs’ training would involve getting them to sniff odor samples from people with COVID-19 and teaching them to discern the smells associated with the disease.
They also note that dogs can identify who is unwell because they are very good at sensing even small changes in skin temperature. Therefore, the dogs may be able to immediately tell who has a fever.
If successful, the investigators believe that medical detection dogs may be able to screen for the respiratory disease after only 6 weeks of training.
In the long run, the scientists note that specially trained dogs could be of service in spaces such as airports, where they would “sniff out” travelers who may have contracted SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
“If the research is successful, we could use COVID-19 detection dogs at airports at the end of the epidemic to rapidly identify people carrying the virus. This would help prevent the reemergence of the disease after we have brought the present epidemic under control,” suggests Prof. Steve Lindsay, from Durham University.
Commenting on the initiative, Claire Guest — co-founder and CEO of Medical Detection Dogs — says: “In principle, we’re sure that dogs could detect COVID-19. We are now looking into how we can safely catch the odor of the virus from patients and present it to the dogs.”
“The aim,” she says, “is that dogs will be able to screen anyone, including those who are asymptomatic, and tell us whether they need to be tested.”
“This would be fast, effective, and noninvasive and make sure the limited [National Health Service] testing resources are only used where they are really needed.”
For live updates on the latest developments regarding the novel coronavirus and COVID-19, click here.
Thank you very much Nancy Ann Watanabe . The employment of dogs trained to detect COVID-19 is very usefull (and especially very efficient, as it's said) for countries without enough technology tools. An information to spread widely around the world!
Myth: Lemon and baking soda can kill coronavirus.
https://thelogicalindian.com/fact-check/lemon-baking-soda-coronavirus-covid-19-kills-20488
Myth: COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks.
Palem Harinath , Your "Myth" that "COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks" is not a myth!
Science News
Just breathing or talking may be enough to spread COVID-19 after all
Experts had said that the virus spreads only through large droplets from a cough or sneeze
📷Talking and breathing may spread the coronavirus through the air, an expert analysis indicates. That may mean that people need to wear masks to avoid infecting others.
By Tina Hesman Saey
APRIL 2, 2020 AT 5:19 PM
The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 may spread through the air in tiny particles that infected people exhale during normal breathing and speech.
Until now, experts have said that the virus, called SARS-CoV-2, doesn’t spread through the air in that way, but rather through relatively large droplets released when people cough or sneeze. Those droplets can contaminate surfaces or objects and infect people who touch the surface and then touch their faces.
Large droplets are still a means of infection, but researchers now say that tiny airborne particles may also carry infectious virus. “Currently available research supports the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 could be spread via bioaerosols generated directly by patients’ exhalation,” researchers from the U.S. National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine wrote in an April 1 report to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
If the coronavirus is airborne, that could help explain why it is so contagious, and can spread before people have symptoms (SN: 3/13/20).
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As of April 2, more than 1 million people worldwide are confirmed to have COVID-19, with nearly a quarter of those cases in the United States, according to tracking by Johns Hopkins University. More than 50,000 people have died worldwide, including more than 5,600 people in the United States.
Wearing surgical masks can cut down on the amount of virus that infected people spread, the expert panel says, citing an unpublished study from the University of Hong Kong. The letter does not address whether wearing a mask will protect the person wearing the mask from catching the illness (SN: 3/27/20). How much virus a person must breathe in to get infected isn’t known.
The report also notes that genetic material from the virus was detected more than two meters (six feet) away from patients’ hospital beds. That finding could indicate that physical distancing by at least two meters may not be enough to limit spread of the virus. Whether infectious virus could be carried that far or if the genetic material is from dead viruses isn’t yet known.
Myth: Chlorine &Alcohol will kill the virus if it has already entered the body.
The most incredible myth that this virus is produced by humans.
Myth: Bill Gates is behind the creation of coronavirus.
https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/bill-gates-behind-creation-of-coronavirus-and-covid-19-pandemic-conspiracy-theorists-float-wild-theories-1666465-2020-04-13
Thank you to all for your valuable comments.
I guess in this period of pandemic, people are blindly going to adopt any certified/uncertified cure or treatment for coronavirus.
Arvind Singh, you have mentioned correctly the topic/issues which has come up like holding your breath for 10 sec, ginger used for treatment and many more mentioned by other RG members.. Sometimes it's marketing strategies of different companies to sell maximum of their products.
Bulcsu Szekely, dear sir thank you for your reference for reading.. its very useful.
I personally think that getting valid information is the fundamental right of every citizen of country.
No one should dare to provide unauthorised information in this period of pandemic, where people are going tough in their personal as well as professional life. The lives of people are at stake. Government should control these types of mis information.. and it is our duty to go for only authorised information.
Fact: There are currently no vaccines licensed for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19. However, some drugs have shown to expedite the recovery process
While several drug trials are ongoing, there is currently no proof that hydroxychloroquine or any other drug can cure or prevent COVID-19. The misuse of hydroxychloroquine can cause serious side effects and illness and even lead to death. WHO is coordinating efforts to develop and evaluate medicines to treat COVID-19.
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters
Myth: Adding pepper to your soup or other meals DOES prevent or cure COVID-19
Hot peppers in your food, though very tasty, cannot prevent or cure COVID-19. The best way to protect yourself against the new coronavirus is to keep at least 1 metre away from others and to wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. It is also beneficial for your general health to maintain a balanced diet, stay well hydrated, exercise regularly and sleep well.
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters
Myth: COVID-19 is transmitted through houseflies
To date, there is no evidence or information to suggest that the COVID-19 virus transmitted through houseflies. The virus that cause COVID-19 spreads primarily through droplets generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks. You can also become infected by touching a contaminated surface and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth before washing your hands. To protect yourself, keep at least 1-metre distance from others and disinfect frequently-touched surfaces. Clean your hands thoroughly and often and avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose.
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters
Apparently, previous so called "joke" related to vaccine by US president...
Fact: Spraying and introducing bleach or another disinfectant into your body WILL NOT protect you against COVID-19 and can be dangerous
Do not under any circumstance spray or introduce bleach or any other disinfectant into your body. These substances can be poisonous if ingested and cause irritation and damage to your skin and eyes.
Bleach and disinfectant should be used carefully to disinfect surfaces only. Remember to keep chlorine (bleach) and other disinfectants out of reach of children.
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters
Drinking methanol, ethanol or bleach DOES NOT prevent or cure COVID-19 and can be extremely dangerous
Methanol, ethanol, and bleach are poisons. Drinking them can lead to disability and death. Methanol, ethanol, and bleach are sometimes used in cleaning products to kill the virus on surfaces – however you should never drink them. They will not kill the virus in your body and they will harm your internal organs.
To protect yourself against COVID-19, disinfect objects and surfaces, especially the ones you touch regularly. You can use diluted bleach or alcohol for that. Make sure you clean your hands frequently and thoroughly and avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose.
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters
Chinaza Godswill Awuchi, thank you for your response on this issue. I think misinformation on corona is an punishable offence.
Chinaza Godswill Awuchi certainly, hydroxychloroquine is not the cure of coronavirus. It is cure for malaria..people and govt. are going for it also.
Chinaza Godswill Awuchi, lots of misconceptions have been raised during this period of pandemic. As you mentioned pepper is not effective in the treatment of coronavirus is true..
Chinaza Godswill Awuchi, the housefly in other diseases may be a vector that has been already been reported, but the corona as described by WHO has also not been spread through these houseflies.
Amer B. Dheyab, one of the early prediction was that coronavirus only affect old aged and children. But as the time passes the effects were seen in all age group..
I think that use of methanol, ethenol on body will harm only your body.. it is not going to disinfect.
I am not a doctor but, I find it difficult to add that Hydroxochloroquine can have negative consequences for the treatment of Covid-19 even if taking the drug for 5 days.
Fact 1: In Brazil, Hydroxochloroquine, a drug known for over 80 years, is used prophylactically in travelers to areas that have Malaria. It starts one week before the trip, continues taking while in the contagion zone and, when returning, continues taking for another week.
Fact 2: Lupus patients take this drug for several years.
Please see the link below.
https://tripura.gov.in/images/covid-19/Banner_Myths-Vs-FactsTR.pdf
Myth: Novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) can be transmitted by houseflies.
https://thelogicalindian.com/fact-check/houseflies-covid-19-coronavirus-amitabh-bachchan-20372
Myth: Pneumonia vaccination might protect people from COVID-19.
https://www.covid-19facts.com/?p=84042
Please also have a look at the following useful links.
https://www.webmd.com/lung/ss/slideshow-covid-myths
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/coronavirus-myths-explored
One of the commonest myths in the early days of the pandemic was increased environmental temperature hinders the transmission of COVID-19, now it proves wrong.
Dear Sunil Kumar, please have a look at the following link:
https://www.who.int/bangladesh/emergencies/coronavirus-disease-(covid-19)-update/addressing-myths-and-rumours
Dear Sunil Kumar, you could also look through the link below:
https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/searo/thailand/12myths-final099bfbf976c54d5fa3407a65b6d9fa9d.pdf