Chlorine Dioxide is Not a “Miracle Cure” for COVID-19

A product containing chlorine dioxide, the main ingredient of industrial bleach, is being sold on Amazon as ‘water treatment’. However, the main use of the disinfectant by online shoppers has been to treat symptoms of COVID-19, particularly in the United States and several Latin American countries.

The chemical compound is used at water plantation facilities to disinfect untreated water by killing bacteria and viruses, as well as preventing the growth of algae. This is achieved by preventing the production of protein within cells.

The medicinal use of the cleaning agent against COVID-19 was first popularised back in April 2020 when President Trump claimed that “disinfectant knocks [COVID-19] out in a minute by injection.” Thereafter, amazon vendors reported a drastic increase in sales after the President’s comments about the disinfectant. In May, the Centre for Disease Control reported in a survey that 4% of respondents admitted to gargling diluted bleach solutions, while 6% admitted to inhaling bleach vapors. Its use subsided after some states, such as Maryland, issued a statewide alert that warned against the ingestion of disinfectants. However, the claim has returned to several social media sites, including Twitter and Facebook, with users claiming that Chlorine Dioxide can be used as a treatment for COVID-19, particularly for respiratory symptoms and sore throats.