Posted at: 10/17/2009 10:52 PM | KSAX.com
By: LUKE GARRISON, WEB PRODUCER
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Fake H1N1 Drugs Being Sold on Internet
Health experts say people are turning to Web sites for drugs to treat H1N1 and that could be potentially dangerous.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) purchased several products online that advertised to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure the H1N1 Virus, but some of them did not even contain the correct ingredients.
After the FDA issued a warning for all families, stating these drugs could be life-threatening, parents have become concerned.
"You just really don't know what is in it, especially with stuff over the internet," said Daironne Tharp, a Saint Louis Park parent.
The FDA says they even found one drug that had an FDA logo to mislead consumers.
"Looks can be deceiving and medicine bought over the internet might not be approved for sale in the United States," said Deputy Director for the Office of Enforcement Alyson Saben.
The FDA worries these sites are selling potentially dangerous products while trying to profit from the H1N1 pandemic. The problem is especially dangerous because dozens of children have died from complications of the virus and parents may be purchasing these drugs out of desperation, only to put their children's lives in danger.
The FDA has set up this list of fraudulent H1N1 Influenza Products to inform consumers about the problem.
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