For many Filipinos, veterinary product Ivermectin is a reasonable alternative medicine against the deadly COVID-19. But in reality, only a handful of medical practitioners are openly in favour of the drug.
You are never really prepared for what you’ll see on the internet. One second you peacefully gaze at videos of cats, the next you’re bombarded with headlines saying that cat medicine is now being used against COVID-19.
There’s a popular joke that says, ‘The Onion [An American satirical newspaper] will go bankrupt because it could not compete with reality anymore.’
The quote is never more true than when news agencies openly discussed the usage of Ivermectin as an alternative drug that can combat COVID-19’s deadly symptoms.
What Is Ivermectin?
Ivermectin is a drug used to treat numerous internal and external parasites such as head lice, scabies, river blindness, strongyloidiasis, trichuriasis, ascariasis, and lymphatic filariasis.
Originally introduced as a veterinary drug, the medicine is typically prescribed to cats, dogs, horses, cows, and pigs. On some occasions, humans are allowed to take the product if they suffer from external parasites such as head lice and skin conditions such as rosacea.
Related: What Is COVAX?: Philippines Gets 480,000 Doses Of AstraZeneca Vaccines
Ivermectin Against COVID-19
In March 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) released an advisory saying that authorities may only use Ivermectin in clinical trials for COVID-19. The announcement came after reports that the medicine is being used to fight off the infectious disease.
Some studies suggest that Ivermectin could potentially ward off the virus by blocking the replication of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19). Research also hinted that the inexpensive and over-the-counter drug contains antiviral properties.
In Latin America alone, it was reported that health workers passed out some 350,000 doses of Ivermectin to residents in northern Bolivia.
Given all these facts, you might think that the Ivermectin is a heaven-sent antidote that will end the pandemic in a snap but medical experts beg to disagree.
