Fact Check: Don't Fall For This Fake News, ICMR Did Not Prescribe Any Drug To Prevent Covid-19

A viral post is claiming that the ICMR has prescribed Ivermectin drug for the prevention and treatment of Covid-19. However the news has turned out to be fake.

Representative Image: /AFP IMAGE/

New Delhi: A claim has been going viral on social media claiming that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) prescribed Ivermectin drug for the prevention and treatment of Covid-19. This is false and ICMR hasn’t made any such statements. ICMR has not approved Ivermectin or specified the drug for the prevention and treatment for Covid-19 as social media posts claim. Ivermectin has been in use since the 1980s for de-worming and as a treatment against head lice and scabies. Earlier, in August an ANI report, showed that the Uttar Pradesh government had prescribed Ivermectin according to the tweet: “Uttar Pradesh government recommends tablet 'Ivermectin' for prophylaxis in contacts and in health care workers and for treatment of asymptomatic to mild symptomatic #COVID19 patients.”

Uttar Pradesh government recommends tablet 'Ivermectin' for prophylaxis in contacts and in health care workers and for treatment of asymptomatic to mild symptomatic #COVID19 patients. pic.twitter.com/XEp75AIRrc

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 7, 2020

However, no such guideline has come from the ICMR, according to an India Today report, Dr Rakesh Kumar Mishra, Director of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) was quoted “ICMR is still reviewing the medicine. Also, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is the Indian body that can authorise any medicine and no such guidelines have been issued by CDSCO.” Ivermectin was used in the initial days, according to MedPage in April, researchers from Monash University in Australia showed that ivermectin could inhibit SARS-CoV-2 in cell cultures which lead to a premature wave of enthusiasm to repurpose the drug as an antiviral at a time when few alternatives were available. Ivermectin has to go through clinical trials before it can be prescribed to people. Side effects of the drug include gastrointestinal side effects or skin rash in fact it can be neurotoxic in rare circumstances. In the India Today report, Dr Mishra said, “Ivermectin is an FDA-approved broad-spectrum anti-parasitic agent. Some studies suggest it may be inhibitory to Covid-19. Considering that it is already approved by the FDA as anti-parasitic, it can be repurposed. The drug being recommended as a prophylaxis for front line workers is not a bad idea since the pandemic is getting more serious and a government with input from its experts can do it.” He also said the drug is not strategically and logistically advisable for individuals unless it has gone through proper trials.