Health officials: Choose safer COVID options than ivermectin

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota health officials used an internet town hall to promote COVID-19 treatments and discourage use of the anti-parasitic medicine ivermectin. Ivermectin has a limited scope for human treatment, sometimes prescribed for worms, scabies and head lice. It is more popular in veterinary form as a treatment for parasitic infections and infestations in cows and horses. North Dakota health officials say the state’s poison control has only documented a couple of cases of ivermectin issues. Doctors say antibody treatments, steroids and antivirals like remdesivir are FDA-approved options for people with COVID-19.