The video will start in 8 Cancel

News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Dettol cannot kill the deadly coronavirus, its manufacturers reportedly confirmed today.

Shoppers had insisted they'd seen claims on the anti-bacterial spray's bottle that it could destroy "cold viruses (human coronavirus and RSV)".

Experts expressed their doubts at this and, today, it is reported Dettol's manufacturer has offered clarity itself.

RB, which makes the spray in Slough, Berkshire, said there is nothing to suggest it is effective in wiping out the strain of coronavirus, which has so far killed more than 200 people.

"RB has become aware of speculation about Dettol products and the novel 2019-nCoV coronavirus," the statement reads.

"As this is an emerging outbreak RB, like all manufacturers, doesn't yet have access to the new virus (2019-nCoV) for testing and, as a result, are not yet in a position to confirm levels of effectiveness against the new strain.

"Our products have been tested against other coronaviruses (such as MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV) and have been found to kill those."

The Sun Online says the label actually refers to more common strains of the bug which it has been tested with and proven to kill.

RB is continuing to work to understand the virus and test Dettol's effectiveness against it "once health authorities make the strain available".

(Image: AFP via Getty Images) (Image: Getty Images)

The firm has reportedly donated £5.5 million in cash and products help bring in medical staff to treat those affected and provide soap and hand sanitizers to hospitals in Wuhan.

But Paul Kellam, professor of virus genomics at Imperial College London told The Sun: "I would not think Dettol has been tested for activity against the 2019-nCoV.

"Nevertheless the manufacturers claim killing activity to a variety of microbes."

It comes as after a rescue flight evacuating more than 80 Brits from coronavirus-hit Wuhan arrived in the UK.

More are expected to come home later today.

And British Airways has suspended all flights to and from mainland China.

A spokeswoman for the airline said on Wednesday it was "assessing the situation".

She added: "We apologise to customers for the inconvenience, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority."