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  • Writer's pictureJEMPJ Team

Chloroquine: Real or Fake News?

written by: Jo McCloy

 

Nowadays, it is sometimes difficult to find out whether an article, theory or news is true or false. Especially if many people share a post or a story and multiple newspapers report about it. With the first glance, something can seem like fake news and an absurd idea, but if you take a closer look both sides to the story can contain true elements. Our knowledge, at this point, is sometimes not sufficient to judge the situation.

When it comes to COVID-19, most of us do not have the expert knowledge to explain the latest findings and ideas properly, and with that false news is spread.

One example is the theory that chloroquine phosphate helps cure corona.

The first time I read about it was a BBC article about fake news regarding corona. "What to do to prevent an infection? What are the myths about this virus?" So my first impression was: why would someone think a random chemical combination cures corona, and no major newspaper reports about it?

As I started my research, I came across a speech given by Donald Trump in a briefing on COVID-19. He said that the FDA, the Food and Drug Administration in the U.S. approved chloroquine as a treatment for infected citizens.

“The nice part is, it's been around for a long time, so we know that if it—if things don't go as planned, it's not going to kill anybody.”

First of all, for those of you who (like me) had no idea what chloroquine is, here a summary: chloroquine is an approved treatment for malaria and heavy cases of arthritis. It is on the World Health Organization’s list of essential medications and has a few side effects, such as; muscle damage, problems with vision and depression.

You probably already see what is coming: the president of the United States and a putative cure for COVID-19, originally used against other illnesses. Not that good of a combination.

However, there are now, at least, two problems.

First off, the FDA soon clarified that there is no approved treatment for COVID-19, not even chloroquine.

Secondly, Trump, as the president of the United States, has a very powerful voice, and this very powerful voice doesn’t come without its consequences. His words have caused at least one death. A couple from Arizona followed his advice, and each drank a small amount of chloroquine to prevent an infection. You might ask where they got the drug without a prescription. Well, chloroquine is a main ingredient in one household item: fish tank cleaner. Unfortunately, the clarifying statement of the FDA was too late and not enough to prevent damage caused by Trump’s fake news.

Furthermore, his rumors spread, leading the Nigerian health administration to warn about taking any drugs to cure COVID-19. But first, after several citizens were admitted to hospital after a chloroquine overdose.

But back to the beginning, why did I mention that the line between true and false is sometimes a little blurry?

Because we might think after all the headlines stating the successful use of chloroquine against corona is fake news, but the story about chloroquine does not end with Trump causing trouble.

In doing further research, you can find clinical studies about the use of chloroquine against COVID-19. Didier Raoult, a french doctor, has already tested 24 COVID-19 patients with good results.

Not only did he start research on the impact of chloroquine, Chinese researchers reported mid-February about positive results of the use of chloroquine. While most doctors warned of heavy side-effects this treatment may cause, the research may say something else. However, the WHO (World Health Organization) published a statement saying the proof of virtue is still not given, but in Europe the first clinical trials have started.

Let’s see how this approach works out... and I will update you in the next week about this attempt to find a drug against COVID-19.

I hope you enjoyed this short article!!


 

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