Surgeon General Jerome Adams is advising Americans to talk to their doctors before giving or taking any medicine or treatment — a warning apparently aimed at President Donald Trump’s ruminations about using light and disinfectants to treat COVID-19.
“A reminder to all Americans- PLEASE always talk to your health provider first before administering any treatment/ medication to yourself or a loved one,” the nation’s top doctor tweeted Friday.
“Your safety is paramount, and doctors and nurses [have] years of training to recommend what’s safe and effective.”
Trump’s comments also prompted a statement from the maker of Lysol, warning against improper use .
"As a global leader in health and hygiene products, we must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route)," Reckitt Benckiser Group said in a statement.
"As with all products, our disinfectant and hygiene products should only be used as intended and in line with usage guidelines. Please read the label and safety information."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, poison control centers have reported an increase by 20% in calls about exposure to cleaners and disinfectants amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The CDC noted data doesn’t show a “definite link” between exposures and COVID-19 cleaning efforts, but that there was a spike at the beginning of March.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.