COVID-19 Treatment Not Available At CA Feed Stores, State Warns

CALIFORNIA — For years, California horse and livestock owners have gone to their local feed stores and purchased ivermectin to deworm their animals — no questions asked in most cases. Amid dangerous claims that ivermectin can treat and prevent COVID-19 in humans, state and federal officials are urging California retailers and veterinarians to help quell the false information.

An Aug. 30 letter from the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine was forwarded by the state to California retailers that sell "restricted livestock drugs" such as ivermectin. The letter obtained by Patch was also sent to the state's licensed veterinarians. In it, the FDA's CVM director asks businesses and vets to "help in sharing important safety information about the misuse of animal ivermectin to prevent or treat COVID-19 in people."

"... poison control centers across the United States are seeing a sharp spike in reports of people suffering adverse health effects after taking animal ivermectin," Dr. Steven Solomon stated in his letter. "People are purchasing various highly concentrated animal ivermectin drug formulations such as 'pour-on,' injectable, paste, and 'drench' that are intended for horses, cattle, and sheep, and taking these drugs has made some people very sick."

"Even if animal drugs have the same active ingredient as an approved human drug, animal drugs have not been evaluated for safety or effectiveness in humans," the letter continued. "Treating human medical conditions with veterinary drugs can be very dangerous. The drug may not work at all, or it could worsen the illness and/or lead to serious, potentially life-threatening health complications. People should not take products approved for veterinary use, 'for research only,' or otherwise not for human consumption."

The letter encourages California retailers that sell restricted livestock drugs to post signs with specific language warning against using ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19 in humans or animals. Many California stores have posted the signs, and several online tack and feed websites have posted the warning.

In the Aug. 30 letter, Solomon also encouraged business owners and veterinarians to report any animal drug advertising/animal ivermectin products with claims about preventing or curing COVID-19.

Interestingly, many shoppers are now being asked for personal information when buying ivermectin and other restricted livestock drugs. While it might seem like new red tape amid COVID-19, it's not.

In 2018, California established new requirements for the sales of restricted livestock drugs like ivermectin, but not all retailers have been following the rules. As part of the state's Antimicrobial Use and Stewardship Program, restricted livestock drugs require specific product labeling in California — "Restricted Drug (CA)-Use only as directed" — and retailers must gather personal information from customers who purchase the products, according to Steve Lyle, director of public affairs for the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

"California has strict laws in place regarding the sales of medically important antimicrobial drugs and restricted livestock drugs (RLD's), including ivermectin," Lyle explained, noting that retailers that sell these drugs must be state-licensed.

Under the program, California retailers must also keep a log of all drug sales. Each transaction requires a customer's name, address, phone number, and signature, as well as the product name (drug or trade name), route of administration to the animal, quantity, lot number, and date of sale. The retailers have also been encouraged to also get a customer's email address and the animal species in which the drugs will be used.

"All licensed retailers are inspected and are required to keep a detailed log of all RLD sales," Lyle explained. "This log must be made available upon request during an inspection."

As a horse owner for more than 25 years, this Southern California-based writer has never been asked for personal information when buying ivermectin or other restricted livestock drugs until this week.

Ivermectin helps prevent internal parasite infestations in horses and other livestock. If left unchecked, the parasites can cause many health problems. The drug's availability over the counter has made treatment easy — no veterinary prescription necessary.

Unfortunately, the FDA's CVM has heard reports of decreased availability of some animal ivermectin products in certain parts of the country, Solomon said in his letter.

In humans, ivermectin tablets are FDA-approved at very specific doses to treat some parasitic worms, and there are topical formulations for head lice and skin conditions like rosacea, according to the FDA.

The drug is not recommended to treat COVID-19 in humans or animals.

"Taking large doses of ivermectin is dangerous," the FDA warns. "If your health care provider writes you an ivermectin prescription, fill it through a legitimate source such as a pharmacy, and take it exactly as prescribed. Never use medications intended for animals on yourself or other people. Animal ivermectin products are very different from those approved for humans. Use of animal ivermectin for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 in humans is dangerous.

"Currently available data do not show ivermectin is effective against COVID-19," the FDA warning continued. "Clinical trials assessing ivermectin tablets for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 in people are ongoing."