FDA Warning H1N1 Fake Cures and Treatments

H1N1 Products Consumer Alert Online Marketing Fraud

Lots of mixed messages and opinions are circulating about H1N1 vaccine's availability and effectiveness. Many people are shying away from getting the H1N1 vaccine. According to a survey by Consumer Report National Research Center in the article, CR poll: Many Americans are unsure about getting the swine flu vaccine, published in September 2009 issue of ConsumerReports.org , only 34 percent of Americans plan to definitely get the vaccine.

Slow H1N1 vaccine distribution and lack of public confidence has many people turning to other ways to fight H1N1. This is giving dishonest businesses opportunity to make money based on people's fears. A market is growing with items making false claims about preventing, treating or curing H1N1.

FDA says, "Buyer Beware of H1N1 Product Fraud"

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is monitoring this growing, illegal marketplace on and off the internet. The more the public is aware of these bogus product claims, and refuses to buy the products, the quicker these criminals will be shut down.

In the FDA's efforts to increase public awareness, the FDA Fraudulent H1N1 Influenza Product List is published and updated regularly. Ceraflu: Hydration Powder, Glyco: Cold Booster Formula and Flucinex: Active Immune System Protection are just a few of the nearly 150 fraudulent internet-available products on the FDA's Fraudulent H1N1 Influenza Product list, most recently published November 5, 2009.

Fake Products Sold with Apparent Real Names

Some of the most common online hits for fake sales are of Tamiflu-like products, oseltamivir (Tamiflu—Roche). Often these products don't arrive in a timely manner, so cannot be effective for the patient fighting the virus, because Tamiflu needs to begin administration within the first 24 to 48 hours of symptoms. According to Maria G. Tanzi, PharmD, Univ. of Illinois, APhA Newsroom post of October 31, 2009, some of the online oseltamivir contains only talc and acetaminophen, while others do have various amounts of oseltamivir in the product, but not the U.S. recommended amounts for effectiveness.