The coronavirus outbreak continues to spread globally, with increasing numbers of confirmed cases in the over 25 countries affected. Scientists are, however, conducting clinical trials on different drugs believed to assist in managing the declared worldwide pandemic possibly.
Chloroquine lists among the potential drugs that scientists have been placing under tests. However, some are in doubt about its efficiency, adding that more research is necessary before confirming or dismissing it as a potential coronavirus cure. However, rumors about chloroquine being a cure for the pandemic have since been going rounds.
According to a memo that had been going rounds in Nigeria, the Chinese and French medics have managed to cure the deadly Covid-19 using chloroquine. The alleged video had the voice of a man speaking in English, claiming that the medics recommend a 500mg dosage for eight days.
The video featured chloroquine tablets, although it has been dismissed on the basis that it is fraudulent, and linked to an illegal seller or one that claims to sell the chloroquine dosage.
Earlier this month, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic and is yet to give any confirmation regarding the drug’s efficacy. According to a statement released by the WHO’s head of clinical care for emergencies on February 20th, no treatment had proven effective for Covid-19.
However, Janet Diaz alleged that China was still conducting clinical trials by then. Janet insisted there was no proof of chloroquine’s efficacy and recommended that drugs undergo ethically approved tests for efficiency and safety.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, drug companies are reportedly racing to develop effective treatments to contain the spread. The death toll continues to rise, with China still leading with the highest death toll.
On February 29th, the first casualty was reported in the U.S. By March 2nd, as published by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, nearly 3,050 people had died in 11 countries, with 96% of the victims being Chinese. Close to 90,000 cases had been reported, although more than half had recovered by then.
According to the conclusions reached by scientists so far, there is reasonable evidence concerning the safety of chloroquine in clinical use for other illnesses, and this justifies clinical research on its effect on Covid-19 patients. A few Chinese publications have come out to report early success in the trials conducted on chloroquine on coronavirus.
The News Agency of the Chinese state indicated on February 17th that there was a curative effect of chloroquine phosphate on the fast spreading novel Covid-19. The drug, however, has some side effects when used for malaria, according to the WHO.
