Dr Anthony Fauci warned, “what we don’t know, is when you put it [chloroquine, which is used to treat malaria, arthritis, and lupus] in the context of another disease, whether it’s safe.”
But people heard Trump.
And someone believed him enough to try to self-medicate.
An Arizona man died after trying to self-medicate.
The man and his wife took a drug meant for aquarium cleaning that contains chloroquine phosphate, a drug Trump recently touted as a possible coronavirus treatment in spite of a lack of study by health officials. The woman is under critical care. “The toxic ingredient they consumed was not the medication form of chloroquine, used to treat malaria in humans. Instead, it was an ingredient listed on a parasite treatment for fish," NBC News reports. “The man's wife [said] she'd watched televised briefings during which Trump talked about the potential benefits of chloroquine. … The couple — both in their 60s and potentially at higher risk for complications of the virus — decided to mix a small amount of the substance with a liquid and drink it as a way to prevent the coronavirus. … Within 20 minutes, both became extremely ill, at first feeling ‘dizzy and hot.’ … Shortly after he arrived at the hospital, her husband died. … The Arizona woman now warns others to listen to medical professionals for the best coronavirus advice."
On the "positive" side, they have discovered a new way to "accidentally" poison people.
And apparently a lot of people believed Trump:
Supplies have evaporated for patients who need the drugs Trump touted as unproven treatments.
“The U.S. has all but exhausted its supplies of two anti-malarial drugs that are being used by some doctors in the U.S. and China to treat the coronavirus,” Chris Rowland reports. “The sudden shortages of the two drugs could come at a serious cost for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis patients who depend on them to alleviate symptoms of inflammation, including preventing organ damage in lupus patients.”
And this has led to a drastic increase in the price of aquarium cleaner:
Here's a listing for chloroquine phosphate on eBay. It is described as being for "Aquarium Fish Only." On February 25, one bottle sold for $9.99 plus shipping. By March 2, the same bottle was sold for $560.00. pic.twitter.com/iWbJEmS9sp— Samuel Oakford (@samueloakford) March 19, 2020
I was thinking, okay, ONE couple made the stupid mistake of thinking that aquarium cleaner is medication. But if the price went up from $9.99 to $560... it's more than just ONE couple. It's... AMERICA.
So, one stupid man touts an unproven treatment for Covid19, hundreds, if not thousands of people believe him, because stupid, and the drugs are now short supply putting legitimate patients who need the medication at risk, and meanwhile aquariums fishes are in danger of parasitic infection because aquarium owners cannot afford to pay $560 to clean their aquarium.
And presumably there are people out there who are planning to self-medicate with their $560 poison.
Well, if they do, they win the Darwin Award. Before they do, here's what the wife of the Arizona man who died has to say:
“Don’t believe anything the President says, and his people, because they don’t know what they’re talking about. And don’t take anything — be so careful — and call your doctor. I mean, this is a heartache I’ll never get over.”
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