The National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) warns against products available on the Internet, in particular those based on plants such as Artemisia annua, sold as remedies against Covid-19.
Since the appearance of the coronavirus, many products have been put on sale, presenting themselves as effective remedies against Covid-19. In a press release published on May 4, the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) warns against certain natural products presented as effective against the virus. She points to the sale of herbal products, in particular the plant Artemisia annua, or annual Mugwort. This is presented as “a therapeutic or preventive solution for infection, in the form of a dry plant, herbal tea decoction or capsules”, describes the Agency.
An impact on African social networks
The ANSM is firm against these products which have already been the subject of alleged virtues against malaria. “These claims are false and dangerous: they could delay necessary medical care in the event of confirmed infection. Indeed, products based on Artemisia annua have not yet demonstrated any therapeutic virtues.”, she writes. Recalling the association of these products with malaria, she adds that “here again, the proof of its effectiveness has not been demonstrated and people who have taken it have developed serious forms of malaria during a stay abroad. In this context, we had prohibited several operators from marketing products containing Artemisia annua in 2015 and 2017.”
This echoes the WHO which indicated that no treatment, neither pharmaceutical nor natural, had so far proven its effectiveness against the coronavirus. In the context of Artemisia annua, it is above all in Africa that this “miracle solution” had a huge impact on social networks. “The Malagasy president notably distributed to the population and in schools an herbal tea called Covid Organics, based on artemisia and other herbs, supposed to give results in seven days”informs AFP.
Beware of products sold online
Beyond this specific product, the ANSM warns against the sale of health products on the internet. She recalls that this one is “strictly regulated”, and that only community pharmacies and their websites are authorized to sell drugs online. “The quality and safety of medicines purchased on an unauthorized site are not guaranteed, falsified medicines (false medicines, or falsely labelled) or counterfeit can be offered there. These products are present in large numbers on the Internet”, warns the ANSM.
In conclusion, the Agency recalls that for “protect yourself against Covid-19, respect barrier gestures. If you think you have symptoms of the disease, contact your doctor”. Avoid “self-medication in the face of any symptom suggestive of a Covid-19 infection (cough, associated with fever, difficulty breathing, muscle pain, loss of taste and/or smell).”
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