A doctor claims to have the cure for COVID-19, but South African professors disagree
A video showing a group of doctors dressed in white coats has thrown social media into a debate after one of them claimed to have cured several COVID-19 patients.
Dr Stella Immanuel, a GP in Houston in the United States, says that she has successfully treated more than 350 people with coronavirus using hydroxychloroquine, Zinc, and Zithromax.
The doctor says that she had previously treated malaria patients with hydroxychloroquine. Doctors had previously claimed the drug could prevent and treat COVID-19 at the beginning of the pandemic, but studies later dispelled the concept.
Dr Immanuel now says the drug works but her video, which gathered more than 20-million views on Facebook, was removed.
“I’m here because I have personally treated over 350 patients with COVID,” she said.
Dr Immanuel said no one needed to die.
Watch the video below:
"NOBODY NEEDS TO GET SICK, THIS VIRUS HAS A CURE"
— Essential Fleccas 🇺🇸 (@fleccas) July 27, 2020
Dr. Stella Immanuel explains how HCQ not only works as a cure but can also be used to PREVENT COVID infection in the first place! #whitecoatsummit
LIVE NOW: https://t.co/7eZJ4j0YE8 pic.twitter.com/MV1W9JbDyf
Doctors and professors have discredited her claim, especially Professor Helen Rees.
Professor Helen Rees is leading the SA part of a global trial to identify treatments for COVID-19.
Professor Rees, Executive Director of the Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, discusses vaccines, the dire need, and process of finding a vaccine and the potential of traditional medicine as a remedy for Covid-19.
Professor Reece commented on Dr. Immanuel’s video, “People are desperately keen to get a cure. I totally agree with Professor Marc Mendelson.
Professor Reece wants to clear up misperceptions, “One thing I would say – Do not go with rumours. Wait until we have the evidence. Eat well, try and exercise, get into the fresh air for your mental health. We have to fast track clinical trials, we have to manufacture a vaccine, once it is successful. We are looking at the earliest middle next year.”
After Dr. Stella Immanuel’s statement, Professor of Infectious Diseases and Head of Division of Infectious Diseases & HIV Medicine at Groote Schuur Hospital, Marc Mendelson commented on the claims.
Professor Marc Mendelson studied Medicine at St Mary’s Hospital, London and specialised in Infectious Diseases at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, where he attained his PhD. He moved to The Rockefeller University, New York in 2001 and subsequently to UCT to work on tuberculosis and innate immunity.