Flu vaccines and pandemic defense kits offered via the web are often simply placebos and some may actually be more dangerous than helpful to your health.
"Scammers are putting consumers' health at risk by encouraging them purchase prescription only drugs from sites that don't require a prescription," says Scott. "People purchasing these drugs may think they are saving themselves time and money, but in fact they are often putting themselves at a real health risk by not consulting legitimate medical professionals about their health concerns."
Federal agencies in the US have found contaminated and counterfeit pharmaceutical products, including Tamiflu, a prescription drug used to treat H1N1 patients. What was sold as the generic version of Tamiflu actually contained vitamin C and other substances that cannot treat nor prevent the H1N1 virus.
BBB offers some tips for avoiding H1N1 flu scams:
Don’t fall for false claims. Be wary of promotions using words such as "scientific breakthrough," "miracle cure," "secret ingredient," or "ancient remedy."
Don't fall for personal testimonials or claims that a product is a quick, effective way to treat or cure an illness. They may sound convincing, but are not substitutes for scientific proof. To report a suspicious ad claim regarding a health product you can file a complaint with the Competition Bureau at www.cb-bc.gc.ca
Know who/what you are dealing with. Avoid websites that don't provide the company's name, physical address, phone number or other contact information.
Go to official sources of information. Follow health advice only from a trusted source, and don't believe product claims to prevent or cure swine flu. The Federal government website www.fightflu.ca, can provide you with current information about prevention, treatment and H1N1 statistics.
Do not go online to get the vaccine; go to a clinic. If you are having challenges finding the flu vaccine, check B.C.'s Influenza Vaccine Clinic Locator www.health.gov.bc.ca/flu/
What happens if you have H1N1?
According to Health Canada, early research indicates that there are two prescription antiviral drugs, Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and Zanamivir (Relenza) that are effective in treating the H1N1 Flu Virus, however, your doctor should be prescribing and administering these drugs to you. Any website claiming generic versions of the drugs may have other ingredients which can cause severe reactions in some people.
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