A post claiming that coconut oil acts as an antibiotic and applying it below one’s knees till footsteps would prevent dengue as the mosquito causing dengue cannot fly above the knees. Let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Coconut oil acts as an antibiotic and can prevent one from having mosquito bite.
Fact: Dengue is a viral infection while antibiotics are used in treating bacterial infections. There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that coconut oil can prevent or cure dengue fever. Hence, the claim made in the post is False.
When we searched about Dengue spread and causes using relevant keywords, we found the website of the World Health Organisation explaining this in its newsroom section. Dengue is a viral infection caused by female mosquitoes whereas, antibiotics are primarily used to treat bacterial infections. As per WHO, ‘The mosquito can fly up to 400 meters looking for water-filled containers to lay their eggs but usually remains close to the human habitation.’
In subsequent research, we found that Coconut oil’s antibacterial and antimicrobial properties make it a natural option for various purposes, such as skincare and oil pulling, etc. However, no study shows that it is a replacement for antibiotics when it comes to treating severe bacterial infections. AFP previously debunked a similar claim by mentioning several experts refuting the claim.
To sum up, there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that coconut oil can prevent or cure Dengue.
