Posts Tagged ‘n1h1 flu scams’
Be Aware of Swine Flu Vaccine Scams
Cashing in on swine flu fear. President Barack Obama declared the H1N1 outbreak a national emergency this weekend. People, desperate to stay healthy, are doing whatever it takes to fight off the virus, and some companies are capitalizing on that by creating online scams.
More than 1,000 people have died from swine flu in the US. More than 20,000 have been hospitalized. People waited in lines for hours this weekend to get vaccinated.
But what if the cure were just a click away. That’s what some sites claim. Try a UV light: “the H1N1 flu killer.”
Or something called “Ionic Silver.” It claims to kill just about any virus within 6 minutes of contact.
How about your own “Flu Immunity Reading.” It’s only $69.
Infectious disease expert Dr. Manoj Jain says don’t waste your money.
“I wouldn’t really trust any of those products if they aren’t FDA approved,” Jain said. “There are many scams out there, and it’s quite scary that people are taking advantage of others.”
The FDA says it has seen a surge of scams in recent weeks. The agency has warned more than 75 websites to stop the sale of nearly 150 products.
Dr. Jain says there some herbal remedies can help you feel better, but check out the price.
“For lots of products being sold and marketed for lots of money,” he said. “I would be quite wary of them.”
The FDA is also concerned about sites selling Tamiflu without a prescription. It can cost you a fortune, and sometimes you’re not even getting the drug. In one product the agency tested, it found only talc and acetaminophen.
“It’s pricey, and sometimes it can be harmful too. It’s really important to be careful.”
Reported by: Allison Sossaman
Email: asossaman@myeyewitnessnews.com

