04-24-2020, 12:37 PM
In Iran, about 300 or so people died from methanol poisoning after a rumor that spread that methanol could prevent or cure infection.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/in-ir...s-hundreds
It's easy to dismiss that as "stupid Iranians", but that was not even a rumor that was endorsed by a head of state.
In the US, we've already had one person die from ingestion of aquarium grad chloroquine.
More importantly, the mixed messages undermine confidence in experts. It discourages people from following best practices that hopefully can keep the infection under control. It makes people think that our leaders are just tossing spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks, so the average person will have no idea what to believe.
BC
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/in-ir...s-hundreds
It's easy to dismiss that as "stupid Iranians", but that was not even a rumor that was endorsed by a head of state.
In the US, we've already had one person die from ingestion of aquarium grad chloroquine.
More importantly, the mixed messages undermine confidence in experts. It discourages people from following best practices that hopefully can keep the infection under control. It makes people think that our leaders are just tossing spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks, so the average person will have no idea what to believe.
BC