Demystifying the myths about COVID-19 infection and its societal importance.

Abstract

Myth is commonly considered as a folklore genre consisting of narratives/stories that play a fundamental role in human beings' everyday lives. These are often endorsed by leaders/rulers/religious preachers and explain to a great extent the functioning of a society and shape the beliefs of people. There is a potential role of cultural and religious beliefs/traditions/customs/rituals, which add a flavor to the public's mindset in a particular region/country and influence the propagation or acceptance of a myth (Morales, 2013). Myths related to various infections have been prevalent from time to time, and it takes a long battle to demystify the existing myths by providing a realistic evidence-based approach. In recent times, some of the common infections, which are have been associated with myths, include Leprosy, Tuberculosis, and Flu (CDC, 2018; Haldimand-Norfolk Health and Social Sciences, 2018; World Health Organisation, 2019). In recent times, the World is facing COVID-19 infection, which has created havoc in the entire World and has affected all aspects of human lives. With the exponential rise in the number of confirmed cases and deaths per day across the World, the health care system has been affected the most. With no potential medication or vaccine developed (to date) against the virus, it is expected that the morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19 infection is going to increase in the near future. Despite creating awareness and providing adequate information to the general public through telecommunication (radio, television advertisements, public health messages by prominent celebrities and national leaders) and distributing pamphlets/signboards at public places about infection control measures and mode of spread of the infection, still, there are a large number of myths associated with the spread and cure/treatment of COVID-19 infection in the society. These myths are traveling from one person to the other, through social media platforms. These myths can be very dangerous, as these can lead to over- complacency and lead to a reduction in actually needed practices, or following some of these myths can lead to other health hazards. In this regard, the various health authorities [World Health Organization (WHO), Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India etc.] have listed some of the prevailing myths to increase awareness about the infection and have provided factual information about COVID-19 in their websites (Boston, 2020; CDC, 2020; Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 2020; Myth busters n.d., 2020). Additionally, some of the claims made by other ‘pathies’ in terms of improvement or boosting of immunity against COVID-19 infection, are being challenged (Boston, 2020; Ministry of AYUSH, 2020). All these had led to further confusion in the mind of the common man. While the healthcare systems are unable to find a solution/cure to the COVID-19 infection, various facts have emerged, which have low validity and are gradually turning into potential myths related to COVID-19 (Boston, 2020; Carbone et al., 2020; Myth busters n.d., 2020). We need to understand that, when we consider something as useful or efficacious in managing or preventing a health condition, the intervention, should undergo a well-designed, adequately powered double-blind randomized controlled trial (DB-RCT). Further, as per the levels of evidence even a cohort or case-control study or any degree of evidence based on case series/case reports or expert opinions can be considered to be a trial to render an intervention to be propagated as justifiable or for the need to be tested (Burns et al., 2011; “CEBM- The Centre for Evidence Based Medicine,” 2020; Sackett, 1989). Till the time any intervention has been unequivocally proved to be efficacious by any of the above-mentioned types of studies, the same should not be claimed as efficacious. In this background, if we look at the various claims made for improving the immunity and resultant prevention of COVID-19, many of these have not been subjected to the rigorous evaluation. Hence, all such claims can be questioned. However, if these are propagated as efficacious or useful, these will also boarder on to be labeled as myths. Currently, prevailing myths related to COVID-19 infection can be categorized into those related to the spread of infection, source of spread of infection, preventive measures, and cure. Some of the commonly prevalent myths related to COVID-19 infection are listed in Table 1 . Table 1 Myths related to COVID-19 infection (Compiled from various sources: WHO website, newspaper articles).