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It would seem that drinking bleach would be one of the crazier ideas politicians have floated as a possible cure for COVID-19, until recently. New, unsubstantiated claims that horse dewormer (and, in much smaller and more specialized doses, an anti-parasitic drug for humans) has taken hold of the internet and a few New Mexico politicians.
US Rep. Yvette Herrell, NM’s sole Republican representative in Congress, is one of several Republicans who sent a letter to Dr. Anthony Fauci in July stating “We write to inquire about certain correspondence from you and other stakeholders in the virology community regarding potential effective solutions in combatting COVID-19, including Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine,” the letter reads. “We are concerned that certain effective strategies at combatting the pandemic may have been overlooked.” That letter followed untrue claims by former President Trump that ivermectin would cure COVID.
In fact, those options have not been overlooked. Numerous studies have shown no effective benefit from ingesting ivermectin made for horses.
Fauci told CNN simply, “Don’t do it.”
When asked if Herrell advocates its use, a spokesperson told KOB-TV: “Drugs that show promise should not be withheld or sabotaged by the federal government. Doctors and patients should be in charge of health decisions, not Washington politicians.”
Other prominent conservative figures are also getting in on the act. Albuquerque lawyer and multi-time candidate for various state offices A. Blair Dunn also publicly advocated taking Ivermectin on his Facebook page:
Dunn has filed numerous legal challenges against the state trying to overturn public health orders since COVID-19 started infecting New Mexicans. None have been successful.
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