There is no approved treatment for patients infected with the Ebola virus, but that hasn't stopped online dealers from offering products they claim will prevent the virus or treat people who have the infection.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers today (Aug. 14) that products claiming to prevent or treat Ebola virus infections are fraudulent. The FDA has received complaints about a number of such products since the Ebola virus outbreak began in West Africa, according to a statement from the agency.
There are experimental Ebola vaccines and treatments in the early stages of development, and researchers are testing the safety and effectiveness of these medicines. However, the supply of such treatments is limited, the FDA said. [5 Things You Should Know About Ebola]
But dietary supplements, by U.S. law, cannot purport to treat or cure disease. People who promote unapproved products should correct their advertisements and remove any claims that they have a drug or device that can prevent or treat Ebola, the FDA said. Those who don't do so will face FDA action, the administration said.
People who see fraudulent claims about the virus can notify the FDA.
The Ebola virus doesn't pose a significant risk to the U.S. public, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have said.
The virus is transmitted through bodily fluids from people who show symptoms of the illness, or via contaminated devices such as needles. Ebola is not a water-borne or food-borne illness, nor does it travel through the air.
Follow Laura Geggel on Twitter @LauraGeggeland Google+. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science.
