Countering misinformation

Countering misinformation

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Recently, some people circulated articles and videos in the Internet claiming that sunbathing, taking hot baths, or blowing hot air into the nose would “kill” the virus responsible for CoViD-19. Are any of these true?

These myths seem to have originated from another prevalent untruth: that the COVID-19 virus is “killed” at 30 degrees Celsius. Nothing can be further from the truth.

When a person is exposed to the coronavirus, it hijacks the cells, and replicates itself rapidly in the body. CoViD-19 is a respiratory disease so the virus first attacks the upper respiratory tract and lungs at the normal body temperature of about 37 degrees. So obviously, CoViD-19 virus is not destroyed at 30 degrees.

A study of another coronavirus, the first SARS coronavirus which spread to about 30 countries in 2003, found that even after heating at 65 degrees for one hour, some could still be detected. It took 75 degrees and 45 minutes for the SARS coronavirus to be inactivated completely, but no similar study has yet been done on CoViD-19.

As for inactivating the CoViD-19 virus by sunbathing, no study has proven this. Past research found that ultraviolet radiation within the range that comprises 95 percent of the sun’s ultraviolet rays had little effect on the first SARS coronavirus.

One the one hand, taking a walk in the early morning or late afternoon sun, with proper social distancing, is good for the body. Exposure to the sun boosts the immune system and produces Vitamin D, and we can all use the exercise. On the other hand, too much sun can suppress the immune system, and lead to skin cancer.

The idea of heating up the body by sunlight, hot baths, or using a hairdryer makes no sense at all. The body likes to stay within an ideal temperature range of around 36 to 37 degrees. Located deep inside the brain, the hypothalamus is the body’s thermostat. If it is cold, the hypothalamus increases internal heat production, constricts blood vessels, and induces the shivering reflex in muscles to warm the body. When it is hot, the hypothalamus activates sweat glands, and regulates blood flow to cool the body.

This is why sunbathing, soaking in a tub of hot water, or using a hairdryer will not change the internal body temperature. So don’t worry about jogging under the sun then going through a checkpoint to have your temperature measured with a thermal scanner pointed at your forehead. Your internal body temperature will remain within the normal range unless you have a heat stroke or a fever.

Characterized by body temperatures of about 38 degrees or higher, a fever is not just a symptom. It is an indication that the immune system is working. When a virus invades the body, immune cells produce so-called pyrogenic cytokines. The cytokines cause the release of a hormone-like substance, which in turn signals the hypothalamus to increase the body’s internal temperature.

The resulting fever triggers mechanisms at the cellular level by activating certain proteins that switch genes responsible for turning on the body’s immune response. The fever also helps T cells, a type of white blood cells, to get to the lymph nodes, and start clearing the infection. Almost every step in the immune process of fighting the infection is stimulated by fever.

Therefore, thinking of fever as an enemy that must be stopped is a misconception. As one of the body’s protective mechanisms, most fevers help fight infection, and need only be treated if they cause discomfort. In addition to the body’s own defenses, we have other tools against the coronavirus. One of the most effective is simple soap and water. Here’s why:

Coronaviruses are enveloped viruses, which means that they are surrounded by an outer layer. Sticking out of the outer layer are spike proteins which give the coronavirus its distinctive shape and name, since the spike proteins make it look like the corona of the sun. The spike proteins lead the attack on human cells. The coronavirus’ envelope is made of lipids, a diverse group of biological molecules insoluble in water and found in living cells.

Soap can be thought of as a long molecule with a head and a tail. The head bonds with water while the tail links up with lipids. Soaps are perfect for rupturing a coronavirus. As soap tails latch on to the lipid envelope, the soap molecules act as crowbars prying open the outer layer, and causing the fragments of the virus to spill out. Soap molecules then form spheres called micelles which trap the fragments including the spike proteins inside.

This exact same process takes place when we wash our dishes: soap molecules form micelles trapping fats and oils (which are lipids) making it easier to wash them off.

So if you want to destroy the coronavirus, forget about sunbathing, using hairdryers on your nostrils, or taking hot baths. Simply wash well with soap and water for 20 seconds and rinse. Our best weapons at this time are social distancing and frequent hand hygiene.

Dr. Jorge Emmanuel

DOST Balik Scientist/SU adjunct professor
 

(The author holds a Certificate in Public Health from the University of Iowa, and trained in Infection Control & Prevention with the Association for Professionals in Infection Control & Epidemiology.)

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