Yesterday we heard that an experimental drug
called ‘Nanosilver’ developed by a Nigerian in
diaspora for the treatment of Ebola has arrived
the country.
But now, despite the experimental drug getting
approval for use by the World Health
Organization (WHO), the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration is claiming that Nanosilver is a
pesticide
From Reuters
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said
on Thursday it has become aware of
products being sold online that fraudulently
claim to prevent or treat Ebola.
The FDA’s warning comes on the heels of
comments by Nigeria’s top health official,
Onyebuchi Chukwu, who reportedly said
earlier Thursday that eight Ebola patients in
Lagos, the country’s capital, will receive an
experimental treatment called nano-silver.
Silver has been used as an antibacterial for
centuries. Tiny silver particles known as
nano-silver have controversially been
incorporated into a variety of consumer
products such as socks and bedding to help
block odors caused by bacteria and mold.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
considers nano-silver a pesticide.
Manufacturers of products that contain it
must register them with the agency.
Nano-silver is also sometimes sold online as a
dietary supplement even though Danish
researchers found in a recent study that nano-
silver can penetrate and damage cells.
The FDA regulates dietary supplements and said
in its statement that “by law, dietary
supplements cannot claim to prevent or cure
disease.”
The agency said it had received consumer
complaints about the Ebola claims.
“Individuals promoting these unapproved and
fraudulent products must take immediate action
to correct or remove these claims or face
potential FDA action,” the agency said.
The Ebola outbreak ravaging West Africa has
claimed 1,069 lives so far. Most have been in
Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Nigeria has
confirmed 10 cases of the disease and four
deaths.
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