An Arizona man has died after he used a fish tank cleaner as a treatment to combat COVID-19. His wife is currently in critical condition.
HEAVY reports the couple ingested chloroquine phosphate, a chemical that is mostly found in fish tank cleaning products. Chloroquine phosphate was reportedly the “cure” to treat coronavirus but medical experts have explicitly warned the public not to use the medication without the approval of a doctor.
RELATED STORIES: Florida Politician Apologizes For Claiming Hairdryer Can Combat Coronavirus
The couple’s demise was initially reported by Banner Health and it said in the press release that the couple were both in their 60s and ingested the chemical. Thirty minutes after drinking the chemical, the couple started experiencing some side effects.
RELATED STORIES: Donald Trump Calls For People To Protect “Our Asian Community” Amid The Coronavirus Pandemic
Banner Poison and Drug Information Center medical director Dr.Daniel Brooks warned that people should not self-medicate due to new information surrounding the coronavirus:
“Given the uncertainty around COVID-19, we understand that people are trying to find new ways to prevent or treat this virus, but self-medicating is not the way to do so. The last thing that we want right now is to inundate our emergency departments with patients who believe they found a vague and risky solution that could potentially jeopardize their health.”