FDA cracks down on Internet sales of swine flu 'cures'

[snopes]

About 80 Internet purveyors have been warned to stop peddling unproven or illegal treatments for H1N1 such as ultraviolet lights or dietary supplements.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...,7556313.story

[snopes]

A shampoo that prevents airborne virus particles that settle on the scalp from causing swine flu. Special disposable gloves that offer protection from ATMs, door handles or steering wheels that might be "contaminated" with H1N1. A "natural immunization" that purports to be a safer alternative to a flu shot.

These are among 140 drugs, devices and pieces of equipment marketed over the Internet that have landed on a list of fraudulent swine-flu-fighting products compiled by the Food and Drug Administration.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...102602428.html

[Logoboros]

I'm kind of shocked (but not really, I suppose) at how bad medical information is on the internet -- at least when it comes to browsing Google results. Sure, there are some excellent, curated sites out there with great information, but if the search results are any indication, those sites aren't the popular ones (at least for relatively everyday complaints -- I'm sure if you search for "hip replacement surgery" or "erythromycin" you'll get more medically sound results).

But I was just searching for advice on treating a nasty post-nasal drip, and even some of the forums or blog comments that started out with sound, science-based medical discussion were rapidly hijacked by people decrying the evils of Western medicine and touting natural miracle cures.

And the thing that really bugs me -- and I can't quite explain it -- is how tempted I was to try some of those cures, since I've had so little relief from standard pharmaceutical options. I suppose the psychological explanation is that I really want some relief, and I just can't feel satisfied with the actual medical answer which is: "There's really not much to do but wait it out."

[snopes]

Now that the White House has declared swine flu a national emergency, and with the H1N1 vaccine in short supply, many Web sites have been peddling swine flu nostrums.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/06/business/06cure.html