FactCheck: Will Dettol kill Corona virus?

Hyderaad: An image of a label claiming that Dettol spray can kill corona virus is going viral in the social media. The post went viral as it was shared thousands of times, claiming that the manufacturers knew that the product can kill Corona virus, even before Corona virus broke out in China in December 2019.

The post features an image of the back label of a bottle of Dettol, a widely-available disinfectant brand sold by consumer goods firm Reckitt Benkiser. The label, which is dated October 27, 2019, claims the product "Kills E.Coli, Sammonella [sic], MRSA, Rotavirus, Flu virus, Cold viruses (Human Coronavirus and RSV)."

Fact Check:

Corona virus is a broad category of viruses which includes a number of different respiratory illnesses. One is the common cold, but the category also includes SARS, a acute respiratory disorder which broke out in 2002 and 2004 and the new coronavirus identified in Wuhan. The Human Corona virus mentioned on the label is NOT actually new Corona Virus or COVID 2019.

The website of Dettol, gives a detailed report on Corona virus and how they are yet to study their products on the New Corona virus strain (COVID 2019).

They mention in the website that "Specific Dettol products have demonstrated effectiveness (>99.9% inactivation) against coronavirus strains from the same family as the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in third party laboratory testing, when used in accordance with the directions for use. These products are: Dettol Antibacterial Surface Cleanser Spray, Dettol Antibacterial Surface Cleanser Wipes, Dettol All-In-One Disinfectant Spray, and Dettol Disinfectant Liquid.

Given the structural similarities of the COVID-19 virus to the coronavirus strains tested previously (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, Human Coronavirus), and based on the evidence available to us, we would expect our Dettol products (listed above) to be effective against the new strain. Definitive scientific confirmation of this, as with all other commercially available virucides, can only be provided once testing against COVID-19 Coronavirus has been conducted, following release of the strain by relevant health authorities."

Therefore, the claim that Dettol can kill Corona Virus or COVID 2019 is YET to be proved. The research is going on and the results are YET to be known on the COVID-2019 as it is a new virus.