Don't Recommend Spraying Disinfectants on People', Health Ministry to Supreme Court

While hearing an ongoing public interest litigation case, the top Court issued a notice seeking a reply from the government regarding the usage of disinfectant tunnels.

The Ministry drew Court's attention to its Standard Operating Procedures that deal with the issue of disinfecting external spaces. In these guidelines, "fogging/fumigating of the external environment was never emphasized/advised". 

The Ministry stated that the use of disinfectants on humans can have a harmful physical and psychological effect. This is why it never recommended them in its guidelines for routine patient care areas or operation theatres. 

In April, the Ministry took into account various media reports of people being sprayed with disinfectants. MoHFW's technical advisory body (Joint Monitoring Group) had even convened a meeting in this regard.

This monitoring group was well represented and advised against the use of disinfectants on people.

The Committee made the following recommendations: 

a) Spraying of disinfectants on humans is not recommended under any circumstances. Spraying any chemical disinfectant is physically and psychologically harmful.

b) Further, chemicals are harmful to human skin and the mucus membrane of the respiratory tract, if inhaled.

c) External spraying of any chemical disinfectant does not kill a virus that has already entered the body of a person or of a person who has earlier been exposed to the virus.

In June, the committee reiterated its findings and recommendations after another expert committee meeting was held where the use of disinfectant sprays and their efficacy in killing the virus was considered.