FDA Warns Americans About Products Fraudulently Claiming to Treat Ebola
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iStockphoto/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers to beware of products being sold online that fraudulently claim to treat or prevent the Ebola virus.
The FDA notes that there are currently no FDA-approved vaccines or drugs to treat or prevent Ebola. Additionally, while there are experimental treatments and vaccines, they “have not yet been fully tested for safety or effectiveness,” and are not available for purchase on the Internet.
The agency said that it has received a number of consumer complaints about products making such claims since the outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa.
Despite the concern, the FDA maintains that the disease does not pose a significant risk to the American public. Ebola is not water-borne or food-borne and can not be transmitted through the air.
Anyone who sees fraudulent products or products making false claims about their effectiveness in preventing or treating Ebola are urged to report them to the FDA, and anyone promoting such products could face FDA action if those claims aren’t removed or corrected.
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