August 16, 2014 -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers to be aware of products sold online claiming to prevent or treat the Ebola virus. Since the outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa, the FDA has seen and received consumer complaints about a variety of products claiming to either prevent the Ebola virus or treat the infection.
There are currently no FDA-approved vaccines or drugs to prevent or treat Ebola. Although there are experimental Ebola vaccines and treatments under development, these investigational products are in the early stages of product development, have not yet been fully tested for safety or effectiveness, and the supply is very limited. There are no approved vaccines, drugs, or investigational products specifically for Ebola available for purchase on the Internet. By law, dietary supplements cannot claim to prevent or cure disease.
Individuals promoting these unapproved and fraudulent products must take immediate action to correct or remove these claims or face potential FDA action.
It is important to note that according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Ebola does not pose a significant risk to the U.S. public. Unfortunately, during outbreak situations, fraudulent products that claim to prevent, treat, or cure a disease all too often appear on the market. The FDA monitors for these fraudulent products and false claims and takes appropriate action to protect consumers.
Ebola is the cause of a viral hemorrhagic fever disease. Symptoms include fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, lack of appetite, and abnormal bleeding. Symptoms of the virus can appear anywhere from two to 21 days after exposure, but is most commonly seen on days eight to10.
In the United States, Ebola is not a water-borne or food-borne illness and is not transmitted through the air. Ebola is spread through direct contact with the body fluids of an infected person, or with objects like needles that have been contaminated with the virus. People who do not show symptoms are not contagious.
Consumers who have seen these fraudulent products or false claims are encouraged to report them to the FDA.
The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.
CMO's Comment
Residents in the Federation are again urged not to purchase so-called health products from internet pharmacies or stores. Such operations generally operate outside of the regulation of an authoritative government agency. As such, their products are not tested hence their quality and safety cannot be verified. Products are invariably Substandard/Spurious/Falsely-labelled/Falsified/Counterfeit. Credit card and other personal information must never be given to internet pharmacy websites.
Regarding the Ebola situation in Nigeria; up to August 14, the total number of cases has not increased beyond 12 with 1 death. No new cases were reported August 13 - 14.
The best countermeasure against the international spread of Ebola is containment in the currently affected countries. Vigorous public health measures are being enforced by national authorities with the support of the international community.
Ebola is spread by direct contact with vomit, sweat, blood and diarrhea of infected persons. Ebola is not spread through the air or by water, food, mosquitoes or rodents. The risk of a traveler spreading Ebola to the Federation and the region remains "low". Surveillance at airports in St. Kitts and Nevis has been steeped-up.
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