Lysol, EPA Warn Against Using Disinfectants As A Means Of Treating Coronavirus

Lysol’s parent company Reckitt Benckiser warned the public Friday to not inject or consume disinfectants as a means of treating the coronavirus. The warning followed statements by President Trump that floated the idea of disinfectants being able to combat the virus.

“Due to recent speculation and social media activity, RB (the makers of Lysol and Dettol) has been asked whether internal administration of disinfectants may be appropriate for investigation or use as a treatment for coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2),” Reckitt Benckiser said in an official release.

“As a global leader in health and hygiene products, we must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route).”

Reckitt Benckiser’s warning was echoed by the Environmental Protection Agency, which posted on its website that disinfectant “products are for use on surfaces, NOT humans.”

"When using an EPA-registered disinfectant, follow the label directions for safe, effective use. Make sure to follow the contact time, which is the amount of time the surface should be visibly wet, listed in the table below," the EPA said.

Trump spoke about the possibility of using disinfectants as a possible coronavirus treatment during a daily press briefings Thursday. He touched on it after a short presentation by Bill Bryan, head of the Department of Homeland Security's science and technology division. Bryan said his team’s research showed that the virus couldn’t survive long in warm, humid temperatures. Trump followed by bringing up the idea of bringing “the light inside the body.”

“I see the disinfectant that knocks it out in a minute, one minute,” Trump said. “And is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning? As you see, it gets in the lungs, it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that.”

Bryan was then asked by a reporter if there was any scenario where someone would be injected with disinfectants, to which Bryan simply replied, “No.”

The presence of Bryan addressing a science question has raised questions about his professional background. Bryan had previously served as an energy consultant. He is neither a scientist nor a medical professional. Meanwhile, an investigation is pending over possible evidence that Bryan abused a government position for consulting work in Ukraine.