FDA Warns Against Fake Ebola Treatments

Fake Ebola treatment sellers could face FDA action

(RxWiki News) The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a statement warning against fraudulent Ebola treatments.

Threatening to take action against individuals selling or promoting the fake products, the FDA reiterated that no FDA-approved medicine can prevent or cure Ebola.

"Only take medicine under the direction of a medical professional."

Ebola is a virus that causes Ebola virus disease, which is a severe, often fatal condition currently affecting large areas of West Africa in the largest Ebola outbreak in history.

In the wake of the outbreak, the FDA has noted several products — many sold online — claiming to cure or prevent the virus.

Although the FDA is currently testing a treatment called ZMapp that is showing initial promise, no known cure or vaccine exists. ZMapp's safety and effectiveness is still being tested, and the supply is extremely limited.

In the press statement, the FDA emphasized that, at this time, Ebola is not a major threat to the US.

FDA officials encouraged anyone who sees Ebola treatments for sale to report them immediately.

Review Date: 
August 14, 2014