Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.soitu.es/soitu/2009/05/13/info/1242236182_358424.html
The Mexican government warns of fake flu remedies sold on the Internet
EFE
Updated 13-05-2009 19:36 CET
Mexico .- The Federal Commission for Protection Against Health Risks (COFEPRIS) from Mexico today warned the public about the dissemination of false advertising and alleged medicinal remedies and vaccines against influenza A, mostly through the Internet.
"The warning that you have to do today is that people be very careful when buying certain products," he said during a press conference the head of the agency, Miguel Angel Toscano.
Several companies took advantage of the panic created in the country by the epidemic caused by virus AH1N1 to sell fake vaccines, treatments eastern, energy drinks, vitamin concentrates, hyperbaric chambers and plant extracts that supposedly fighting against or prevent disease.
For example, the company provides a Bios Nova vaccine called "transfer factor", which was promoted by radio and internet with the promise "that reverses any symptoms related to influenza (influenza A)," the official said.
To date COFEPRIS has ordered 36 companies to withdraw misleading and in some cases confiscated products and suspended the activities of companies, as happened with Bios Nova.
The company also sold Vaccinations All the alleged vaccine "transfer factor", so the government had to suspend their advertising and take advantage of the air its website.
Toscano said the case of the American In-House Medical Services, who claimed on its website to sell drugs against seasonal influenza laboratory GlaxoSmithKline.
The vaccine "transfer factor" is sold at up to 940 pesos (about $ 70) through the Internet, he said.
Polisalud owners, however, marketed vitamin and Omega 3 concentrates in newspapers and the Internet to "take care" of influenza A.
Others, like the China Institute of Traditional Medicine, promoted via the Internet "treatments prevention against the virus using the" therapeutic china.
Xango the U.S., selling an energy drink mangostino (a tropical fruit), took advantage of the circumstances by email to advertise a vitamin drink that allegedly reduced the infection of influenza A, said Toscano.
"The supplements have no proven therapeutic properties or to have this or any other disease," he said.
La Victoria Mexican Neem also marketed on the Internet a few capsules of the plant neem tree "treatment" against AH1N1.
The official stressed the Permanent Beauty, which produces "vials of tissue cultured cells of placenta, thymus and brain."
This company promised in the newspapers strengthen "the defense of treatments," which earned him the total suspension of activities and the confiscation of their products.
These companies join other treatments sold in hyperbaric chambers, air purifiers that kill the virus supposedly, fumigations, medicinal teas, capsules of omega 3 and salmon, and homeopathic anti-flu. "
COFEPRIS focused attention on the portal MercadoLibre.com, where anyone can sell any product, "and urged him to refrain from disseminating" any misleading advertising "related to the outbreak of influenza A.
The Mexican government warns of fake flu remedies sold on the Internet
EFE
Updated 13-05-2009 19:36 CET
Mexico .- The Federal Commission for Protection Against Health Risks (COFEPRIS) from Mexico today warned the public about the dissemination of false advertising and alleged medicinal remedies and vaccines against influenza A, mostly through the Internet.
"The warning that you have to do today is that people be very careful when buying certain products," he said during a press conference the head of the agency, Miguel Angel Toscano.
Several companies took advantage of the panic created in the country by the epidemic caused by virus AH1N1 to sell fake vaccines, treatments eastern, energy drinks, vitamin concentrates, hyperbaric chambers and plant extracts that supposedly fighting against or prevent disease.
For example, the company provides a Bios Nova vaccine called "transfer factor", which was promoted by radio and internet with the promise "that reverses any symptoms related to influenza (influenza A)," the official said.
To date COFEPRIS has ordered 36 companies to withdraw misleading and in some cases confiscated products and suspended the activities of companies, as happened with Bios Nova.
The company also sold Vaccinations All the alleged vaccine "transfer factor", so the government had to suspend their advertising and take advantage of the air its website.
Toscano said the case of the American In-House Medical Services, who claimed on its website to sell drugs against seasonal influenza laboratory GlaxoSmithKline.
The vaccine "transfer factor" is sold at up to 940 pesos (about $ 70) through the Internet, he said.
Polisalud owners, however, marketed vitamin and Omega 3 concentrates in newspapers and the Internet to "take care" of influenza A.
Others, like the China Institute of Traditional Medicine, promoted via the Internet "treatments prevention against the virus using the" therapeutic china.
Xango the U.S., selling an energy drink mangostino (a tropical fruit), took advantage of the circumstances by email to advertise a vitamin drink that allegedly reduced the infection of influenza A, said Toscano.
"The supplements have no proven therapeutic properties or to have this or any other disease," he said.
La Victoria Mexican Neem also marketed on the Internet a few capsules of the plant neem tree "treatment" against AH1N1.
The official stressed the Permanent Beauty, which produces "vials of tissue cultured cells of placenta, thymus and brain."
This company promised in the newspapers strengthen "the defense of treatments," which earned him the total suspension of activities and the confiscation of their products.
These companies join other treatments sold in hyperbaric chambers, air purifiers that kill the virus supposedly, fumigations, medicinal teas, capsules of omega 3 and salmon, and homeopathic anti-flu. "
COFEPRIS focused attention on the portal MercadoLibre.com, where anyone can sell any product, "and urged him to refrain from disseminating" any misleading advertising "related to the outbreak of influenza A.