Misleading News on Ivermectin Created and Being Spread As Screenshots of Tweets of Fox News

Despite the current low intensity of the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation continues to spread. This is our investigation of some such posts. 

Social Media Posts

A screenshot of a tweet attributed to Fox News claims that 68% of individuals who used Ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19 are suffering from long-term bowel and urinary incontinence.

Facebook | Archived 

We decided to do a fact-check on this.

Fact Check 

Verification of Tweet:

Using advanced Twitter search tools and checking internet archives, no evidence of such a tweet from Fox News was found.

When contacted by AP fact-checkers, a spokesperson from Fox News confirmed that the network had not published such information. Related AP Fact Check can be read here. 

Validity of Claim:

The claim suggests a high percentage (68%) of individuals experiencing long-term bowel and urinary incontinence after using Ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment or prevention.

However, there is no scientific evidence or widely documented cases supporting such a claim.

Neither the CDC nor the WHO has approved Ivermectin for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19.

While it’s acknowledged that some individuals have used Ivermectin off-label for COVID-19 treatment, the efficacy and safety of this usage remain under debate. A previous article done by Fact Crescendo Sri Lanka on the suitability of Ivermectin as COVID treatment can be found here. 

The FDA  issued warnings against using veterinary formulations of Ivermectin intended for animals to treat COVID-19 in humans, as overdoses can lead to adverse effects like vomiting and diarrhea. FDA’s view over the usage of Ivermectin can be read here 

Fact Check done by another fact-checking tool over the same issue can be read here. 

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Conclusion:

The claim regarding long-term bowel and urinary incontinence among individuals using Ivermectin for COVID-19 lacks credible evidence and has been debunked by independent fact-checkers also.

While excessive use of Ivermectin may lead to adverse effects, as warned by the FDA, there is no substantial evidence supporting the claim of long-term incontinence associated with its use for COVID-19.

Fox News Has Not Published such a tweet, and the screenshot is a purported one.