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Comment by mc32 | Hacker News Reader

Looks interesting but so far only talks about using it as prophylactic via inhalation; however the virus is known to enter via mouth, eyes and anus as well (breaks in skin probably). Even so inhalation and touching to mouth are likely the most common vectors of infection, so seems promising.

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It isn't the same thing (I hope!) but it reminds me of McIntyre Powder. Miners were told by their company to use a fine aluminum/aluminium dust they breathed in before going to work in a mine.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31532354/

"McIntyre Powder (MP) is a finely ground aluminum powder that was used between 1943 and 1979 as a prophylaxis for silicosis. Silicosis is a chronic lung disease caused by the inhalation of crystalline silica dust and was prevalent in the Canadian mining industry during this time period."

...and in case you were wondering just how bad an idea this was, it's been conclusively linked to Parkinson's: https://parkinsonsnewstoday.com/2020/05/14/parkinsons-linked...

It doesn’t have to be 100% effective for it to end the pandemic - it just has to be effective enough that it blocks most transmissions and gets the viruses reproduction rate under 1.

Well at the same time proving to not have any side effects, such as passage into the bloodstream followed by formation of molecules that the liver cannot break down and the kidneys cannot flush.

It's promising early research, but it's not even in laboratory animal trials yet.

Even if it worked exactly as advertised, how could permanently chuffing the Llama oil vape be more practical than masks?

PS: again if it worked exactly as advertised, could it be a tool to stifle incubation after a know exposure?

The virus is "known to enter" via the anus? That might be hypothesized by someone, but I haven't heard of any documented cases of anal transmission. Have you?

Here is one report[1] although this one is contracting it from the anus. Early in the pandemic I read about acquiring via the anus, but not sure if that was confirmed.

[1] https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/02/studies-...

That's not what that report says. At all.

"Chinese scientists report evidence of an oral-fecal transmission route for COVID-19 viruses and show that, in hospitalized patients, viral RNA was found in anal swabs and in blood samples."

I.e. you find RNA in anal swabs & blood. It leaves your body that way. Which is a well-known fact, and might be very useful in population-level surveillance. It also means you should put the lid down before flushing, lest you create something lovingly known as a "toiled plume".

It does not mean you get infected via the anus.

Yes but I think inhalation is the deadliest route. I could be wrong though.

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