MARCH 25, 2020

Man Dies, Wife Hospitalized From Ingesting Fish Tank Cleaner to Prevent COVID-19

By Tom Rosenthal
Self-medication by a Phoenix-area couple in their 60s with chloroquine phosphate in the mistaken belief the additive, commonly used by aquariums to clean fish tanks, was a prophylactic for COVID-19 resulted in the husband’s death and his spouse in critical care, according to officials.

Within 30 minutes of taking chloroquine phosphate, the couple began suffering side effects that required admission to a nearby Banner Health hospital, said officials at the acute care center.