Public urged to gargle with lukewarm water, salt amid nCoV threat

Simple oral hygiene may help lower the chances of being a carrier of different viruses, an infectious disease specialist said Friday, amid the threat of the 2019 new coronavirus.

"Maging part na po ng oral hygiene ang pagmumumog po ng maligamgam na tubig na may asin—may coronavirus scare man o wala," Dr. Rey Salinel said in an interview on Unang Hirit.

"Marami pong namamatay na bacteria at viruses sa high-salt concentration."

Salinel said that a pinch of salt and a glass of lukewarm water will make an effective gargling solution. He also advised the public to exercise frequent handwashing or sanitizing with alcohol-based products to kill viruses.

"Huwag ninyo pong hawakan ang mga mata ninyo, ilong ninyo, bibig ninyo kasi 'yan po ang portal of entry. Napaka-importante pong malinis ang kamay," he said.

Boosting the immune system by eating foods rich in Vitamin C, getting enough sleep, and avoiding stress would also help a lot, he added.

Wearing face masks in crowded areas is also advised.

The Philippines confirmed its first case of novel coronavirus infection on Thursday. As of Friday, the virus, which originated from Wuhan City in China, has killed over 200 people, all in China, and the World Health Organization already declared the outbreak a "global emergency" amid cases of infection reported in many nations. —Dona Magsino/KBK, GMA News