On Thursday 14th August, “Experimental drug
expected in Nigeria today” was the major headline flooding newspapers in
Nigeria. I was excited that finally there was good news about Ebola treatment.
However, according to recent reports, the U.S. is claiming
that the experimental drug called 'Nanosilver' developed by a Nigerian in
diaspora for the treatment of Ebola is questionable.
Despite the experimental drug getting approval for use by the
World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is
claiming that “Nanosilver” is a pesticide. Hmmm is it a pesticide because it doesn’t
come from them? Or did Nigeria just accept anything out of desperation? What is
the way forward now? I am just saying.
Please remain happy and spread happiness around. Read the
full story after the cut as reported by Reuters
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
said on Thursday it has become aware of products being sold online that
fraudulently claim to prevent or treat Ebola.
The FDA's warning comes on the heels
of comments by Nigeria's top health official, Onyebuchi Chukwu, who reportedly
said earlier Thursday that eight Ebola patients in Lagos, the country's
capital, will receive an experimental treatment called nano-silver.
Silver has been used as an
antibacterial for centuries. Tiny silver particles known as nano-silver have
controversially been incorporated into a variety of consumer products such as
socks and bedding to help block odors caused by bacteria and mold.
The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency considers nano-silver a pesticide. Manufacturers of products that
contain it must register them with the agency.
Nano-silver is also sometimes sold
online as a dietary supplement even though Danish researchers found in a recent
study that nano-silver can penetrate and damage cells.
The FDA regulates dietary supplements
and said in its statement that "by law, dietary supplements cannot claim
to prevent or cure disease."
The agency said it had received
consumer complaints about the Ebola claims.
"Individuals promoting these
unapproved and fraudulent products must take immediate action to correct or
remove these claims or face potential FDA action," the agency said.
The Ebola outbreak ravaging West
Africa has claimed 1,069 lives so far. Most have been in Guinea, Sierra Leone
and Liberia. Nigeria has confirmed 10 cases of the disease and four deaths.
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