Death blow on use of Ivermectin
Recent statements by governments and the maker of Ivermectin against the use of the drug in the treatment of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients should finally settle the matter.
The statements of Merck and the health departments of the Philippines and the United States, among others, are like the death blow being delivered on the use of ivermectin in the treatment of Covid19 patients. This practice of giving ivermectin to persons with Covid-19 should stop.
Merck, the maker of Ivermectin, had said that, while company scientists continued to examine findings of all available and emerging studies of ivermectin for the treatment of Covid-19, it has been identified to date that there is no scientific basis for a potential therapeutic effect against Covid-19 from preclinical studies and no meaningful evidence for clinical efficacy in patients with Covid-19.
The Merck statement was released on February 4, 2021, but it has been resurrected following a statement of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that noted a rise in ivermectin prescriptions and in severe illness associated with the use of the drug in the treatment of Covid-19. The CDC statement, dated August 26, said human exposures and adverse effects associated with ivermectin have increased in 2021 compared to the pre-pandemic baseline.
There is a version of ivermectin that is allowed for humans, for illnesses caused by parasitic worms and head lice, but the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not endorse it for Covid-19 treatment. The World Health Organization had said any use of ivermectin for Covid-19 patients should be for clinical trials only, under doctors’supervision.
Despite these warnings and reports of people overdosing on ivermectin, some still take it as prevention against Covid-19 or to treat their infection. An overdose on ivermectin can cause nausea, seizures, coma, and even death.
In the Philippines, some people are seeking ivermectin because they read, heard or believed it could protect them, and the drug is affordable. With no cure, no medicine to treat the Sars-CoV-2 that causes Covid-19, it is understandable that people would turn to alternative methods.
pandemic on the travel industry.
However, even with its readiness, Bi Yong said that CRK’s full use could be delayed as border restrictions and quarantine rules that are currently in effect may keep authorities from having more flights here.
“They all want to (come) but we are sorry we are limited because of restrictions where passengers have to go through quarantine. And they can only use quarantine facilities here in the region,” she said.
She said that CRK could restore more flights and destinations by more airlines when border controls and quarantine rules imposed in airports like CRK are eased down.
“Hopefully once we had achieved herd immunity and most of our borders restrictions are lifted. For instance, allowing vaccinated passengers to go on just 1-2 days of quarantine, then we can accept more flights,” she added “Today, sorry we are turning down flights, she laments.
CRK has about 670 domestic and international fights per week at the peak of its operations prior to the onset of the pandemic in January 2020. It posted a peak record two million passenger traffic in the first half of 2019. (Noel G. Tulabut/ SunStar Pampanga)