WHO stops hydroxychloroquine trials
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has suspended trials of the drug that Donald Trump has promoted as a coronavirus defence, fuelling concerns about the US president’s handling of the pandemic that has killed nearly 100,000 Americans.
Trump has led the push for hydroxychloroquine as a potential shield or treatment for the virus, which has infected nearly 5.5 million people and killed 345,000 around the world, saying he took a course of the drug as a preventive measure.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has also heavily promoted hydroxychloroquine while the virus has exploded across the nation, which this week became the second most infected in the world after the US.
But the WHO said on Monday it was halting testing of the drug for Covid-19 after studies questioned its safety, including one published on Friday that found it actually increased the risk of death.
The WHO “has implemented a temporary pause ... while the safety data is reviewed”, its chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said, referring to the hydroxychloroquine arm of a global trial of various possible treatments.
Trump announced last week he was taking the drug after receiving letters from a doctor and other people advocating it. He dismissed the opinions of his own government’s experts, who had warned of the serious risks associated with hydroxychloroquine, with the Food and Drug Administration highlighting reported poisonings and heart problems.
Trump has been heavily criticised for his handling of the virus, after initially downplaying the threat and then repeatedly rejecting scientific analysis.
The US has the world’s highest coronavirus death toll, reaching 98,218 on Monday, with more than 1.6-million confirmed infections.
Despite the World Health Organisation suspension, Brazil’s health ministry said on Monday it would keep recommending hydroxychloroquine for Covid-19.
“We’re remaining calm and there will be no change,” health ministry official Mayra Pinheiro told a news conference.
Bolsonaro is a staunch opponent of lockdown measures and like Trump has played down the threat of the virus, even as Latin America has emerged as the new global virus hotspot.
Brazil has reported nearly 375,000 cases, widely considered to be far fewer than the real number because of a lack of testing, and more than 23,000 deaths.
Chile also is in the grip of a virus surge, with a record of nearly 5,000 infections in 24 hours on Monday.
While South America and parts of Africa and Asia are only just beginning to feel the full force of the pandemic, many European nations are easing lockdowns as their outbreaks are brought under control.
Despite the encouraging numbers, experts have warned that the virus could hit back with a devastating second wave if governments and citizens are careless, especially in the absence of a vaccine.
The extended lockdowns, however, have started to bite globally, with businesses and citizens suffering immense economic pain.