New Studies Warn of Dangers from Hydroxychloroquine, Falling Vaccination Rates

WASHINGTON, LELEMUKU.COM - A malaria drug that U.S. President Donald Trump says he has been taking to avoid contracting COVID-19 has been linked to increased risk of death in patients with the disease, according to a study published in a prominent medical journal.

The study, published Friday intheLancet, monitored more than 96,000 COVID-19 hospital patients. It found that people treated withhydroxychloroquine, or the related drug chloroquine, were more likely to developan irregularheart beatthat could cause sudden death.

Trump began touting the use of the malaria drug as a coronavirus treatment in early April and said earlier this week he was taking it as a preventative measure.

The authors of the study suggested that hydroxychloroquine should not be used to treat COVID-19,outside of clinical trials,until results fromthose trialsare availableandconfirmits safety for COVID-19 patients.

In April, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration also issued a warning about the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat the coronavirus.

Another new study, this one by theWorld Health Organization, concludedthe pandemic isinterferingwith immunization against diseases that could risk the lives of nearly 80 million infants. Global health officials say over half of 129 countriesthat hadimmunization data reportedthe suspension of vaccinationsagainstcholera,measles, polio andother diseases. (VOA)