Stop using this drug in the treatment of corona, WHO warns a second time

New Delhi, 11 May 2021 Tuesday

Amid rising cases of corona in the world, scientists are now looking for a vaccine as well as a Covid-19 drug. In this direction, scientists have been seeing great success, but there is also an obstacle. Recently, during a review of a study led by the front-line Covid-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC), scientists found a drug called 'Ivermectin' to be very effective against Covid-19 infections. Not only that, on this basis, the Goa government on Monday also approved the use of the drug in the state. Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration in India for use in a variety of infections.

Although the WHO has now issued an alert for the use of this drug, WHO's chief scientist Dr. Saumya Swaminathan said in a tweet that it is important to keep safety and efficacy in mind while using any drug for any ailment, adding that in addition to clinical trials, 'Ivermectin' is not immediately suitable for patients with covid.

Significantly, this is the second WHO warning in the last two months regarding the use of Ivermectin in Covid-19. In early March, the health organization said in a statement that there was no evidence that the use of ‘ivermectin’ could reduce the risk of hospitalization or death from covid infections. Merck, the manufacturer of the drug, has also warned of its use in Covid-19, the company said in a statement, adding that "we are conducting a scientific study and test on the efficacy of Ivermectin."

Earlier on Monday, the Goa government had approved the use of Ivermectin in the state. After this, the chief scientist of WHO, Dr. Soumya Swaminath has warned on Tuesday.

Safety and efficacy are important when using any drug for a new indication. HOWHO recommends against the use of ivermectin for # COVID19 except within clinical trials https://t.co/dSbDiW5tCW

- Soumya Swaminathan (ctorsdoctorsoumya) May 10, 2021