Health
One in 20 Covid Patients Used Unproven Treatments Like Malaria Drug
- Viral misinformation campaigns have fueled higher consumption
- Use of drugs doesn’t break down across political lines
The FDA initially authorized hydroxychloroquine in 2020, but later revoked the emergency use authorization after clinical trials showed the drug was ineffective against the virus.
Photographer: Christopher Occhicone/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
One in 20 people who had Covid used questionable treatments championed by groups that spread misinformation during the pandemic, a new study found.
In a survey conducted from December to January, of nearly 13,500 participants who had Covid at any point during the pandemic, 5.9% reported using ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug typically used in livestock, or hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug, with some using both. Neither is approved to treat Covid but both have been promoted as remedies by vaccine skeptics and right-wing groups.