Corona quacks run amok
In this atmosphere of fear-mongering, the one thing churning faster than the pandemic, is the rumour mill.
And while the coronavirus is spreading through touch and saliva, the rumours are using one thing that the population has access to, but has questionable literacy in -- social media. This includes Facebook, IMO, WhatsApp and, of course, YouTube.
"GOOD NEWS!!! Wuhan's coronavirus can cure itself by a bowl of freshly boiled garlic water. The old Chinese doctor proved its effectiveness… RECIPE: Take eight chopped garlic cloves, add seven cups of water and bring to a boil. Eat and drink the boiled water from the garlic... Please share with all your contacts and help save lives..." reads a message shared with this correspondent by multiple people over the past few days, with the noble intention of saving my life.
The message is laughable to say the least -- if only garlic could cure coronavirus, one wonders why countries are having to reorient their entire health systems to try and contain the virus.
This has become such a wide-spread message that WHO has since then had to officially debunk this too -- meaning this "cure" will not be doing anything other than subjecting one to a foul-tasting drink.
But "cures" continue to crop up. A photo circulated widely shows a banner by a homeopathy hall in Purana Paltan claiming to have found a prevention for coronavirus. "Nothing to fear anymore! Preventive medication of coronavirus made according to homeopathic medicine science can be found at Sekandar Homeo Hall!" reads the sign.
So The Daily Star called the number provided. One Dr Abdullah picked up and informed, "Yes, we have preventive medicine for coronavirus. You can buy it for Tk 50 each." The establishment also reportedly treats those afraid of getting married, tumours of any and every type, and hypersexual disorder.
He is not the only one. Indian politicians have openly been claiming that cow urine and dung are useful to fight against coronavirus. Alcohol-free hand sanitisers made of cow urine are now available on Amazon India.
It is to be noted that the only hand sanitisers suggested for use are those with over 60 percent alcohol.
There's more. On January 29 this year, India's Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homoeopathy) issued a directive to the general public stating, "The Group of Experts inter-alia has recommended that homoeopathy medicine Arsenicum album 30 could be taken as prophylactic medicine against coronavirus infections." Arsenicum album is a highly diluted solution of arsenic trioxide.
Meanwhile, several religious leaders have been quick to jump on the bandwagon, and have been delivering sermons regarding the prevention and cure of coronavirus across the country.
In a YouTube video with 4.8 million views, titled "New information leaked about coronavirus that China could not keep secret", a religious leader addressing a congregation in Trishal, Mymensingh described an interview taken of the virus in the land of dreams.
"Mamun Maruf from Italy told me about this dream of his. Let me tell you, as the qiyamat draws closer the dreams of Muslims will not lie," the preacher started the story with this disclaimer.
"He had fallen asleep around half past midnight, when this coronavirus which looks like a kodom phooll came in front of him. 'When did you come to this planet?' the man asked the virus. 'We came on October 23, 2019 when three Chinese soldiers raped and killed a Chinese Muslim woman named Ayesha'," he described.
"Then there was a command that the corona army go attack China," he concluded.
Up until this point, the sermon might have come across as ridiculous -- but then his tirade took a sinister, communal turn.
He went on to predict that coronavirus relayed the message that it will kill one-seventh of the world's population. "We will mostly kill the Buddhists, the people killing the Muslims."
"Those who say their prayers, do their ablutions, emit a glow which humans can't see but viruses can. They will not be attacked by the virus."
The crowd responded with loud praise for the Creator -- a reminder that racism against certain communities have drastically risen along with the spread of coronavirus.
In a follow-up video taken during another suchsession, he spoke at length about a follow-up interview taken with coronavirus in dreamland, where the virus apparently relayed the message that if people shun Indian television and cinema channels, they will not get coronavirus. The listeners made loud noises of acquiescence.
The story does not stop there -- in yet another follow-up video taken during a session in Daudkandi, Cumilla, the preacher said an antidote to coronavirus has been discovered and it involves the meat of pigeons and spiders and must be concocted by a pious man.
"The formula for this is 1.q7 + 6 = 13. Seven drops taken over seven days will cure those affected," he said, confident in his conviction. The crowd once again cheered in amazement.
It has been reported by media that the new coronavirus came from Wuhan's wildlife market. Among many other sellers, the market catered to Chinese traditional medicine practitioners. Faith in pseudoscience and superstitions may have led to the advent of coronavirus -- will it dominate the field of prevention and cure too?
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