By Lee Kyung-min
Some opportunists are capitalizing on growing public fears over the Zika virus, known to be linked to birth defects, to sell their products.
An Oriental medical practitioner has come under fire for claiming that he has Korean medicine effective in treating Zika-caused microcephaly.
On his blog, the practitioner located in western Seoul advertised the effectiveness of his treatment method including drinking an herbal extract called Injitang.
“Drinking Injitang helps brain development in newborns, and previous cases indicate that it was effective in treating microcephaly,” he said. “Drinking Injitang makes the brain bigger. Long-term intake would increase synaptic activity in the brain.”
As the advertisement caused a stir, the Association of Korean Medicine (AKOM), an interest group representing Oriental medicine practitioners, filed a complaint with the district’s public health authorities for violation of the Medical Law last week.
“As far as we know, there is no way to treat microcephaly in both Oriental and modern medicine,” AKOM said. “We took the measure as the advertisement may mislead consumers.”
The Korea Medical Association (KMA) also said that such a claim lacks credibility and degrades the reputation of the medical community as a whole.
“Being born with microcephaly due to Zika is a birth defect, a condition which cannot be treated by enlarging the brain,” a KMA official said.
A company selling mushroom powder said on its website that its enzyme product increases immunity to the virus. “Increased immunity can prevent infection by the Zika virus,” it said, also posting photos of children with microcephaly.
Another company in Busan selling bedding products with soil also advertised on its blog that people using its products can develop resistance to germs including the Zika virus.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said Wednesday that seven people who showed symptoms of Zika infection tested negative.
“The seven people that underwent screening came out negative for the virus,” a KCDC official said.
The KDCD said the country will beef up quarantine and precautionary measures.
The government said it will strengthen its quarantine on plants and animals coming to the country. It also pledged transparency and disclosure of all Zika-related information to the public.
Earlier on Tuesday, the government held an emergency meeting of medical and quarantine experts, vowing to take all necessary measures so the country can be ready to counter the virus.