A social media post about COVID-19 treatment is doing the rounds with a claim that inhaling steam at 70°C kills novel coronavirus if it enters through our nose.
The Facebook post read, “अति आवश्यक सूचना ।
आप जो गरम पानी पीते हैं वह आपके गले के लिए अच्छा है। पर यह जो कोरोना वायरस है, वह आपके नाक के paranasal sinus के पीछे जो खाली जगह है, वहां 3 से 4 दिनों तक छुप जाता है। यह गरम पानी जो हम पीते हैं वह वहां तक पहुंचता नहीं है। 4 से 5 दिन के बाद यह वायरस जो नाक के paranasal sinus के पीछे छिपा था वह आपके फेफड़ो में पहुंच जाता है। फिर आपको सांस लेने मे दिक्कत शुरू होती है।
इसलिए भाप यानी स्टीम लेना बहुत जरूरी है, जो आपके paranasal sinus के पीछे तक पहुंच जाती है। आपको स्टीम से इस वायरस को नाक में ही मार देना है।
40°C पर यह वायरस अशक्त यानी paralyzed हो जाता है। 60°C पर यह वायरस इतना कमजोर हो जाता है कि किसी भी इंसान का इम्युनिटी सिस्टम उसके खिलाफ लड़ सकता है। 70°C पर यह वायरस पूरा मर जाता है, जो घर पर रहता है, उसे दिन में एक बार स्टीम लेनी चाहिए। अगर आप सब्जी लेने मार्केट जाते हो तो दो बार ले लो। जो कोई किन्हीं लोगों से मिलते हैं या ऑफिस जाते है उन्हें 3 बार स्टीम लेनी चाहिए। और जो कोई डॉक्टर COVID पेशंट का इलाज करते हैं, वे तो हर २ घंटे के बाद स्टीम लें।
अपना ध्यान रखें और स्वयं के साथ परिवार परिचित और समाज को भी सुरक्षित करें। धन्यवाद।”
(Very important information.
The hot water you drink is good for your throat. But this coronavirus is hidden behind the paranasal sinus of your nose for 3 to 4 days. This hot water we drink does not reach there. After 4 to 5 days this virus that was hidden behind the paranasal sinus of the nose reaches your lungs. Then you have trouble breathing.
That’s why it is very important to take steam, which reaches the back of your paranasal sinus. You have to kill this virus in the nose with steam.
At 40°C, this virus becomes disabled i.e. paralyzed. At 60°C, this virus becomes so weak that any human immune system can fight against it. This virus dies at 70°C, who stays at home, should take steam once a day. If you go to the market to buy vegetables, take it twice. Anyone who meets some people or goes to the office should take steam 3 times. And those doctors who treat COVID patient, they should take steam after every 2 hours.
Take care of yourself and protect your family acquaintance and society as well. Thank you.)
Other similar post was found here and here.
FACT CHECK
NewsMobile fact-checked the above post and found it to be misleading.
With help of keyword search on Google, we found an article in Digital MEdiC dated May 21, 2020, claiming that there is no scientific evidence that inhaling steam kills the virus. The article said that it is a myth that inhaling steam is an effective COVID-19 treatment.
Further, we also found a tweet by WHO, Philippines, on August 26, 2020, claiming that saltwater steam can never protect anyone from catching #COVID-19.
Q: Is tuob/suob (steam inhalation) a cure for COVID-19?
A: Salt water steam will not prevent you from catching #COVID19. Extremely hot steam can be harmful, as there is a risk of burn injury. pic.twitter.com/zpheiR6NmP
— World Health Organization Philippines (@WHOPhilippines) August 26, 2020
Further, we found heat-related myth busters from WHO claiming that heat cannot stop the spread of novel coronavirus.
On digging further we found a report by UNICEF dated April 20, 2020, with a statement that it is incorrect to claim that coronavirus dies within five minutes at a temperature of 70°C.
Also, we found a PIB Tweet claiming that there is no scientific proof that steam kills coronavirus.
There is no scientific evidence to prove that inhaling hot water steam kills #Coronavirus.
Remember: Respiratory hygiene, social distancing and washing hands are effective measures to prevent #Covid19
Let’s spread facts, not fear and contribute to #IndiaFightsCoronavirus pic.twitter.com/fD6PYI68Ds
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) March 30, 2020
In March, NewsMobile debunked a video with a similar claim.
Hence, social media claims about COVID-19 prevention through steam inhalation are false. Inhaling steam at 70°C cannot prevent coronavirus infection.
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