FDA warns of fraudulent products advertising Ebola prevention, cure

The FDA is warning consumers about fraudulent products being sold online claiming to prevent or treat Ebola virus, according to a statement.

There are currently no FDA-approved vaccines or drugs for Ebola. Many experimental products are in development, but have not yet been fully tested for safety or effectiveness. The FDA has received several consumer complaints about a variety of products claiming to prevent or treat the disease, according to the statement. No products specifically for Ebola are available on the Internet, and the law prevents dietary supplements from claiming to prevent or cure disease.

“Unfortunately, during outbreak situations, fraudulent products that claim to prevent, treat, or cure a disease all too often appear on the market,” the FDA wrote in the statement. “The FDA monitors for these fraudulent products and false claims and takes appropriate action to protect consumers.”

The CDC has stated that Ebola does not pose a significant risk to the US public, and it is only spread through direct contact with body fluids of an infected person or contaminated objects like needles.

As of Aug. 13, there have been 1,975 cases of Ebola and 1,069 deaths throughout Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria, according to the CDC.