People, who suspect they have caught the novel coronavirus, should not take the popular drug ibuprofen without consulting a doctor, the World Health Organisation, WHO, said.
WHO gave the warning, on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, pointing to the ongoing research into possible negative effects.
Christian Lindmeier, the WHO’s spokesman, told a Geneva news conference that there are no recent studies that link the anti-inflammatory drug with increased mortality rates, but he added that experts are currently investigating the matter.
“We recommend paracetamol, not ibuprofen in self-medication,’’ Lindmeier said.
The UN agency’s comments came after leading French health officials warned against using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, NSAIDs, against the coronavirus disease.
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This group of pharmaceuticals includes ibuprofen, aspirin and other drugs.
A recent article in the medical journal “The Lancet” put forward the hypothesis that some drugs including ibuprofen might pose a risk for COVID-19 patients, who also suffer from high blood pressure or diabetes.
Lindmeier also reported that two WHO staff members have been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes COVID-19 respiratory disease.
Several hundred WHO staffers started working remotely from home on Tuesday.
The UN health agency no longer invites journalists to its premises to update them on the coronavirus pandemic but broadcasts its briefings on social media.
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Hollywood Star, Idris Elba, Tests Positive For Coronavirus
Veteran British actor, Idris Elba has revealed that he has been diagnosed with the dreaded coronavirus.
During the late hours of Monday, March 16, 2020, Idris Elba shared a video on his official Twitter account where he revealed that he’s tested positive of COVID-19.
He is the latest celebrity to test positive of coronavirus.
Idris says he didn’t have any symptoms but got tested after finding out he’d been in contact with someone else who tested positive, and since then gone into immediate self-isolation with his wife Sabrina.
“This morning I tested positive for Covid 19. I feel ok, I have no symptoms so far but have been isolated since I found out about my possible exposure to the virus. Stay home people and be pragmatic. I will keep you updated on how I’m doing. No panic.” Idris Elba captioned.
This morning I tested positive for Covid 19. I feel ok, I have no symptoms so far but have been isolated since I found out about my possible exposure to the virus. Stay home people and be pragmatic. I will keep you updated on how I’m doing 👊🏾👊🏾 No panic. pic.twitter.com/Lg7HVMZglZ
— Idris Elba (@idriselba) March 16, 2020
The Thor star explained in the Twitter video – in the full transcript below:
‘I got some test results back and it came back positive, and it sucks.
‘I’m doing okay, Sabrina hasn’t been tested and she’s doing okay. I didn’t have any symptoms. ‘I got tested because I realised I was exposed to someone who had also tested positive. I found out last Friday that they were tested positive.
I quarantined myself and got a test immediately and got the results back today. This is serious. Now is the time to think about social distancing, washing your hands.
‘Beyond that there are people out there who aren’t showing symptoms and that can easily spread it. So now is a real-time to be really vigilant about washing your hands and keeping your distance, okay.
‘We’ve told our families, they’re very supportive. We’ve told our colleagues. Transparency is probably the best thing for this right now.
If you’re feeling ill and you feel like you should be tested or you’ve been exposed, you do something about it. It’s really important.
‘We live in a divided world right now, we can all feel it. It’s been bulls**t. But now is the time for solidarity. Now is the time for thinking about each other. ‘
Hattip to CNN
