(WZZM) - The FDA recently purchased products on the internet claiming to be Tamiflu, which is an anti-viral medication used to treat the H1N1 virus in patients with asthma and other compromising illnesses. When it arrived, it was post-marked from India and the unlabeled white tablets were taped to a piece of paper.
When the pills were analyzed they contained talc and acetaminophen and none of the ingredients in Tamiflu.
The FDA also sent out a letter warning 75 websites the FDA claims are marketing fraudulent supplements that claim their products could stop the spread of the H1N1 virus.
You should be skeptical of anything you buy over the internet that hasn't been FDA approved. Hospitals are encouraging you to use common sense when visiting patients.
The fewer people who come with you to the emergency room and the fewer visitors that cancer patients or other patients with compromised immune systems receive the more you are protecting them from outside infections.
"The virus is transmitted by cough and if a patient were to take off their mask and cough that's something we can't prevent so even with those best efforts there could be some spread and so it would be best to limit the number of people either with a patient or coming to visit a patient." Dr. Michael Olgren with Saint Mary's Health Care recommends you take into account who needs to make a visit before heading to the hospital.
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