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Hot fluid initially lauded as virus antidote (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

lava

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'hot fluid' is the definition.
'lava' can be an answer for 'fluid' (I have seen 'dangerous fluid' mean 'lava' so perhaps 'fluid' could also mean 'lava'). I am not sure about the 'hot' bit.

'initially lauded as virus antidote' is the wordplay.
'initially' says to take the initial letters.
The first letters of 'lauded as virus antidote' is 'LAVA'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for lava that I've seen before include "Volcanic stream" , "Volcano output" , "Molten rock expelled by a volcano" , "Flowing volcanic matter" , "Volcanic outpouring" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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