路上の消毒剤散布、コロナ除去に効果なし　健康上のリスクも　ＷＨＯ

【ジュネーブＡＦＰ＝時事】世界保健機関（WHO）は16日、複数の国で実施されている路上での消毒剤散布には新型コロナウイルスを除去する効果はなく、むしろ健康上のリスクが生じると警告した。（写真は資料写真）
　ＷＨＯは、コロナ対策の一環で実施されている清掃や消毒に関する文書で、「路上や市場などの屋外で消毒剤を散布したり薫蒸したりすることは…消毒剤がほこりやごみによって不活性化されることから、ＣＯＶＩＤ-１９（新型コロナウイルス感染症）ウイルスなどの病原体を消毒する方法として推奨されていない」と指摘。
　さらに、道路や歩道は新型ウイルスの感染原とはされておらず、屋外であっても消毒剤を散布すると「人間の健康に危険」を及ぼす恐れがある指摘した。
　また、人への消毒剤散布については「いかなる状況下においても推奨されていない」と強調。「身体的にも精神的にも害を及ぼす可能性がある上、感染者が飛沫（ひまつ）や接触によってウイルスを拡散させる可能性が減るわけでもない」と説明した。塩素などの有毒な化学物質を人に散布することで、目や肌の炎症や気管支けいれん、胃腸への影響が起きる恐れもあるという。
　またＷＨＯは、消毒剤を散布しても薬剤が直接触れたところにしか効果はないという研究結果を挙げ、「消毒をするのであれば、消毒剤に浸した布や雑巾を使って行うべきだ」とした。
　現時点では、新型ウイルスが多種多様な物体の表面でどのぐらいの期間、感染力を維持したまま残存するのかについて正確なところは分かっていない。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/05/18-13:33）

Spraying disinfectant on the streets, as practised in some countries, does not eliminate the new coronavirus and even poses a health risk, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Saturday.
In a document on cleaning and disinfecting surfaces as part of the response to the virus, the WHO says spraying can be ineffective.
Spraying or fumigation of outdoor spaces, such as streets or marketplaces, is... not recommended to kill the COVID-19 virus or other pathogens because disinfectant is inactivated by dirt and debris, explains the WHO.
Even in the absence of organic matter, chemical spraying is unlikely to adequately cover all surfaces for the duration of the required contact time needed to inactivate pathogens.
The WHO said that streets and pavements are not considered as reservoirs of infection of COVID-19, adding that spraying disinfectants, even outside, can be dangerous for human health.
The document also stresses that spraying individuals with disinfectants is not recommended under any circumstances.
This could be physically and psychologically harmful and would not reduce an infected person?s ability to spread the virus through droplets or contact, said the document.
Spraying chlorine or other toxic chemicals on people can cause eye and skin irritation, bronchospasm and gastrointestinal effects, it adds.
The organisation is also warning against the systematic spraying and fumigating of disinfectants on to surfaces in indoor spaces, citing a study that has shown it to be ineffective outside direct spraying areas.
If disinfectants are to be applied, this should be done with a cloth or wipe that has been soaked in disinfectant, it says.
The SARS-CoV-2 virus, the cause of the pandemic that has killed more than 300,000 people worldwide since its appearance in late December in China, can attach itself to surfaces and objects.
However, no precise information is currently available for the period during which the viruses remain infectious on the various surfaces.
Studies have shown that the virus can stay on several types of surfaces for several days. However, these maximum durations are only theoretical because they are recorded under laboratory conditions and should be interpreted with caution in the real-world environment.