08/06/2020 - 15:01
- Clarín.com
- Society
"PAHO strongly discourages the use of chlorine dioxide and its derivatives to be ingested or inhaled or for any other use in humans, these products are used to disinfect inanimate surfaces, not for humans . " Marcos Espinal, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Pan American Health Organization, said so. He talks about a substance whose use is being discouraged by the scientific community but that in different parts of Latin America is promoted to fight the coronavirus: sometimes it is pushed by the State and sometimes by some communicators with an impact on public opinion.
As Espinal explained, there is no quality clinical trial or reliable result that suggests that these products are effective or efficient against the coronavirus. "On the contrary, it is very toxic, it is a yellowish gas that reacts very strongly chemically. It can cause death, diarrhea, pneumonia and other series of events. It is imperative that when people hear that these products are offered, contact their Ministry of Cheers, "he warned.
This Wednesday, the host Viviana Canosa closed her program Nothing personal, taking from the spout of a plastic bottle. "I am going to take a little bit of my CDS," he said, in relation to a solution diluted in water and based on the questioned chemical compound, "it oxygenates the blood, it comes divine. I recommend it, I show you what I do," he said.
A chlorine dioxide medication at a pharmacy in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Credit ... Danilo Balderrama / Reuters
The UN News publication also made its wake-up call. According to the report, the clear dioxide "is being consumed and is offered as a miracle by some companies or people." The chemical compound is used as a bleach during the papermaking process or in water treatment plants. It has also been used as a disinfectant and to purify water, although in low concentrations.
PAHO noted that in previous years some products with chlorine dioxide or a derivative were marketed as "therapeutic" for different pathologies, without any scientific evidence on their efficacy.
Contrary to what is indicated by the Pan American health body, the Bolivian Legislative Assembly approved Tuesday the legalization of the use of chlorine dioxide to combat the coronavirus pandemic. In what context? In a scenario in which hospitals are saturated, they do not reach the available medicines and there is no specific health policy that the State is implementing.
According to the approved project, the law regulates "exceptionally the preparation, marketing, supply, administration and consensual use of the chlorine dioxide solution as a preventive measure and as a treatment for patients diagnosed with coronavirus."
The first vice president of the Senate, Milton Barón, clarified that the use of chlorine dioxide "is subject to the personal decision of any citizen who wants to resort to this alternative possibility, it is not mandatory." The law establishes that doctors may indicate this treatment and that an informed consent signed by the patient or a family member must be mediated.
At the statements issued by PAHO, at the local level are added those of the researcher from the National University of Tucumán (UNT) and the Conicet Carlos Horacio Gusils León, who is leading a study on the use of chlorine dioxide as an environmental and elements of personal protection against coronavirus. The scientist advised against this Thursday its use in human treatments "until there are no scientific studies and authorization from Anmat to support it."
"In the current biography there are many works that describe the use of chlorine dioxide as an environmental disinfectant and there are few works dedicated to treating people," said Gusilis, who added that studies on the use of the substance in humans "need a basis stronger scientist to recommend it. "
A day before promoting the consumption of a substance advised by the scientific community on television, Viviana Canosa had hugged the members of her panel , urging them to violate the recommended social distancing. "The President broke the forties," was his argument, in relation to the hug that Alberto Fernández said he had given to the Minister of Economy, Martín Guzmán, after the successful negotiation of the agreement with the bondholders.
GS
