Livestock businesses and doctors are dazed by the fact that they are now warning members of the public against using medication meant to treat horse for intestinal worm as treatment against COVID-19.
On Tuesday evening, Canada’s public health agency issued a warning noting that the medication Ivermectin. Which is sold at local animal feeds stores and comes in a huge syringe as an ingestible for about $15, is meant for horses amongst other livestock and must never be used by humans.
Online groups advertising the drug as being effective against the Coronavirus also say that it was approved for use by humans. They added that the human approved version isn’t the same as the one being used to treat parasitic worms in horses.
However, lab trials illustrating use of the drug against COVID-19 virus did not turn out as expected as the quantities needed to combat the virus are not safe for humans, and no evidence has been presented to show that it is effective against those with the virus.
Health authorities said that members of the public had called the poison control after they ingested the medicine noting its great if you have intestinal parasites, otherwise, its not effective against COVID-19.
As a result, supply and livestock feed stores across B.C now require their customers to show proof of livestock before they can purchase the medication. Stores are using the horse selfie test to turn away their buyers who want to use the drug to treat COVID-19, preserving it for farmers who genuinely need it for their livestock.
