Fears over catching China’s deadly coronavirus have spread worldwide.
Since the previously unknown strain started in the city of Wuhan at the end of last year, it has reached at least 25 countries, including the US, UK and Australia.
China alone has reported more than 24,300 cases, with the death toll reaching 490 on Wednesday.
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With no “cure” and limited treatment options, many are turning to the weird and wacky in attempts to protect themselves.
Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are awash with self-proclaimed “experts” claiming that garlic-infused water may ward off coronavirus and that the disease started in rhino horns.
Does ‘garlic water’ protect against the new coronavirus?
In a post that has been liked by 180 Facebook users and shared 106 times, the “Helpfull Blog” claims that “Wuhan’s coronavirus can be cured by one bowl of freshly boiled garlic water”.
An “old Chinese doctor” reportedly recommends boiling eight cloves of chopped garlic with seven cups of water.
“Eat and drink the boiled garlic water, overnight improvement and healing,” the post adds.
Experts have been quick to debunk the false claims.
“There is no scientific evidence to substantiate the claim that garlic boiled water cures the novel coronavirus nor is there any proper medical research available on the subject,” Dr Wasim Khawaja, from the Pakistani Institute of Medical Sciences, told AFP.
“Such claims on social media that this vegetable or that herb cures the novel coronavirus are misleading, and they may be harmful for people as they indulge in these homemade remedies and do not visit a hospital for testing, and this may lead to the spread of the virus if anyone is actually infected by it.”
In response to the rumour, the World Health Organization (WHO) added: “Garlic is a healthy food that may have some antimicrobial properties.
“However, there is no evidence from the current outbreak that eating garlic has protected people from the new coronavirus.”
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No, boiled garlic water cannot cure coronavirus. The claim is false
