January 23, 2006 -- FDA Warns of 'Influenza-Preventing' Products

Warning of public health dangers posed by fraudulent products and practices that claim to treat or prevent seasonal or avian influenza, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) January 20 cited as examples:

• Drugs have been intercepted at the Canadian border that claimed to be "generic Tamiflu" but actually contained only Vitamin C and other ineffective substances;
• Individuals have been arrested and/or indicted for administering counterfeit influenza vaccine to employees attending a corporate-sponsored health fair and for attempting to sell to hospitals unlicensed flu vaccine that was smuggled into the country, and
• A licensed practical nurse was sentenced to nine months in prison this month for adding saline to increase her supply of flu vaccine administered at a clinic at a college in Minnesota.

"Consumers should be aware that currently there are no approved vaccines for preventing avian flu in people," the FDA pointed out. And although several vaccines and drugs have been approved for prevention or treatment of seasonal influenza, it is often impossible for consumers to differentiate between approved products and those that are not genuine. In general, the FDA advised, influenza-related products that are promoted to consumers without specific endorsement by a registered pharmacy or health care professional and/or without a valid prescription written by a health care professional are not approved by the FDA and have not been determined to be safe and effective.