Mass disinfection fighting coronavirus poses new health hazards

Along Reuters April 1, 2020

Indonesian Surabaya-On Tuesday, drones dispersed a cloud of disinfectant over Indonesia’s second largest city, Surabaya. This is a response to a pandemic coronavirus that is endemic throughout the world, despite warnings from health care professionals.

Mass disinfection by workers in protective clothing resembling characters in the comedy movie “ Ghostbusters ” has become more common, from the Grand Bazaar in Turkey to bridges in Mexico and Indian migrant workers .

However, visually impressive measures taken to contain the rapidly spreading virus that has killed more than 37,000 people worldwide have not only lost time and resources, but also reduced the risk of illness as a health hazard. Criticized by experts.

“It’s a ridiculous picture that’s found in many countries,” said Dale Fisher, a Singapore infectious disease expert who chairs the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network coordinated by the World Health Organization.

“I don’t think it adds anything to the reaction and could be toxic to people. The virus does not last long in the environment and generally does not touch the ground. “

A spokesperson for the Mayor of Surabaya said that the virus “might be everywhere,” requiring the use of drones for disinfection in areas where cases were confirmed.

Febriadhitya Prajatara compares benzalkonium chloride disinfectant, which can cause skin irritation at high concentrations, with “ soap ” and said it helps to “ attenuate the virus and keep it out of the body ” .

Coronavirus is an infectious respiratory disease that spreads through the nose and mouth through coughing and sneezing.

People can also be transmitted by contacting contaminated objects before touching their nose, mouth, or eyes.

Ali Surwono, a local in Surabaya, welcomed the city’s initiatives.

“The use of drones is very effective and can be disinfected anywhere, including on the roof. [by workers], They can only reach the top of the fence, “he said.

Paul Tambyah of the Asia Pacific Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection said that targeted cleaning of commonly touched surfaces such as handwashing and elevator buttons provides better protection than bulk disinfection.

“It [spraying] Probably cheaper and more visible, but it’s probably more effective to pay attention to personal and environmental health, “said Tambier.

When Indian healthcare workers killed a migrant worker in northern Uttar Pradesh on a hosepipe on Monday, anger was raised that the movement of people from the city to the countryside risked the spread of the virus. Was.

Further communication

In Malaysia, under a national blockade of the virus, authorities are conducting disinfection activities in high-case areas to reduce the risk of further transmission.

However, images of disinfecting spray plumes launched from trucks into the air or from spray guns to the road have upset health professionals.

“Disinfection of roads has no apparent effect,” said Christopher Lee, a former deputy director of the Ministry of Health in Malaysia and an infectious disease expert. “Waste of resources and man-hours”

Malaysia’s Health Director Noor Hisham Abdullah said on Tuesday that the government would issue guidelines to local governments to ensure that disinfection activities were performed properly.

Returning to Indonesia, a telephone booth-type disinfection room has been set up across the capital Jakarta, allowing passers-by to quickly blow off potential bacteria from clothes and skin with a blast.

Exiting one of the rooms outside the bus stop in central Jakarta, said Funny Anisa, a resident of Jakarta.

A private initiative deployed with the support of a local government has been criticized by an expert advising the government’s antivirus task force.

“It’s not good for the skin, mouth and eyes. It will cause irritation,” said Wik Adisamito, a professor of public health at the University of Indonesia.

Leon Honam, an infectious disease expert at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore, said mass disinfection is eye-catching and potentially motivating, but not an effective virus control.

“It would be better to use water cannons to disperse people and get them home,” he said.

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