Online Claims Fuel Interest In Ivermectin As Covid-19 Cure

This comes as health experts urge caution, issue warnings on drug meant for parasite infestations

- Osmond Chia

Despite warnings from experts, unsubstantiated beliefs that ivermectin can cure Covid-19 still hold strong.

Forums, social media and chat groups are rife with anecdotes of how the drug – a prescription-only drug for treating parasite infestations – has alleviated Covid-19 symptoms. Some also claim it helps reduce post-vaccination reactions.

Health experts and even Merck, a manufacturer of ivermectin, have said there is inadequate evidence that it can cure Covid-19. However, many studies are under way.

The authorities have also issued warnings that the drug may be dangerous to anyone taking it – the latest here coming from the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) on Tuesday.

Self-medicating with ivermectin is dangerous and it can only be prescribed by doctors for the purposes of treating parasitic worm infections, HSA warned.

It was responding to reports that members of the public tried to import ivermectin or use it to treat the coronavirus.

In one incident, Madam Wong Lee Tak, 65, remains hospitalised since last Friday after taking the drug on the advice of friends who insisted it protected her from the virus.

In the Telegram chat group SG Covid La Kopi, several members cast doubts that Madam Wong became ill because she had consumed ivermectin and suggested that it was a result of the Sinopharm vaccine she had taken on Sept 23. Their messages were later deleted.