Oct 29, 2009 6:20 pm US/Eastern
Fraudulent Products Claim To Prevent H1N1 Virus
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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Some fraudulent products are claiming to prevent the H1N1 virus.
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As the H1N1 death toll rises, and the vaccine remains in short supply, consumers are taking their concerns about the virus to the internet.
Healthwatch reporter Kellye Lynn found dozens of flu-related products online but warns not all deliver on their promises.
The Food and Drug Administration is exposing numerous products that have falsely claimed to diagnose, prevent or treat the H1N1 virus.
From pathogen paralyzing machines, to medicated facial masks, products have made claims about the H1N1 virus that the government says they can't keep.
"People are taking advantage of this sort of hysteria regarding swine flu or H1N1," said Doug Gansler, Md. Attorney General.
"I have a seven-year-old, and a three-year-old, and it scares me," said Nancy Bassin, parent.
"I don't want to see nobody else die from it," said Lisa Yellity.
Frustrated Marylanders wait in long lines for a vaccine in short supply. Without adequate protection, some are resorting to purchasing products sold over the internet.
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A lot of products are being pushed over the internet saying sort of a miracle cure, and there really is no such thing as a miracle cure for H1N1," said Gansler.
Gansler urges consumers to be on the look out for fraudulent H1N1 products.
The FDA has warned at least 75 websites to halt the sale of more than a hundred products that make false H1N1 flu virus claims.
Items listed on the agency's website include shampoos that promise to protect against the virus, dietary supplements to prevent children from getting sick and tests for diagnosing H1N1.
When WJZ searched for items on the FDA's fraudulent products list, we found them under different website addresses, still making claims to cure illnesses.
One of the items, a medicated body wash, promises to protect your body from harmful bacteria and viruses such as the flu.
"It never crossed our minds to buy anything like that," said Matt Woods.
Maryland's attorney general says if you're concerned about protecting yourself from swine flu, skip the internet and call your doctor.
"You need to go to your doctor, clinic where you regularly go for medical treatment to ask them what you should do about preventing H1N1 in the first place or treating it once you get it," said Gansler.
If you've purchased an item that you feel has made false claims about the H1N1 virus, the FDA and attorney general's office urge you to report the matter, so they can go after the manufacturer.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
FDA's List Of Fraudulent Products
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