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Thursday, Aug 26 2021

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Poison Control Centers Report Spike In Calls Over Cattle Drug Ivermectin

USA Today reports on rising call numbers for poison control centers across the U.S. Misuse of ivermectin, typically a cattle anti-parasitic, as a covid treatment is to blame. Meanwhile, a jail in Arkansas is treating patients with the drug and an Alaskan borough mayor is also promoting it.

Poison control centers聽across the nation have received an uptick in calls about the drug聽ivermectin, an anti-parasitic聽medicine often used to treat聽cattle and pigs. Gaylord Lopez, executive director for the Georgia Poison Control Center, told USA TODAY they have already received 15 to 16 calls in August compared to the typical one call a month.聽Lopez said one woman called the center after purchasing the sheep version but didn't have any side effects. Others have called the center and reported significant symptoms ranging聽from extreme vomiting聽to blurred vision, he added.聽(Gilbert, 8/25)

The North Texas Poison Center reports they鈥檝e received 52 poisoning calls for ivermectin this year, compared to six through August of last year. The numbers are increasing, too. Sixteen of the 52 calls this year have been in August. In August of 2020, Texas received two reports about ivermectin poisoning statewide. This August, they鈥檝e received 55.Last year, the state received 23 ivermectin reports from January through August. This year, there have been 150, an increase of 552%. (Joy, 8/25)

An Arkansas jail and its health-care provider are facing criticisms of 鈥渕edical experimentation鈥 because the jail鈥檚 medical staff has been treating covid-19 patients with ivermectin, a drug commonly used for deworming livestock. Washington County Justice of the Peace Eva Madison (D) said she heard reports of the practice Tuesday after a county employee visited a Karas Health Care coronavirus testing site at the Washington County Detention Center in Fayetteville and was prescribed ivermectin despite testing negative for the coronavirus. (Bellware, 8/25)

An Alaska borough mayor, who says he is not a medical professional, has promoted a debunked treatment for COVID-19 that is intended more for farm animals. Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce has publicly backed the use of ivermectin, an anti-parasitic deworming drug, the Peninsula Clarion reported Wednesday. (8/25)

This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
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