“Something’s Rotten in the State of Denmark” is a famous phrase from the Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet”. It generally refers to sudden and unwelcome events associated with corruption. Certainly, the sudden appearance of the Wuhan coronavirus fits the description of a sudden and unwelcome event, but what about corruption? Something doesn’t make sense.
As I watch the daily briefings and news articles on the pandemic, I am struck by the lack of discussion of Cloroquine and its virus treatment partner, Zithromax. The ongoing discussions seem to center on the availability of ventilators, personal protection equipment, hospital beds and, of course, doctors and nurses. Why so little on a low-cost drug regime?
Anecdotal study after anecdotal study has concluded that Chloroquine and Zithromax produce seemingly miraculous results even when Wuhan coronavirus patients have been put on ventilators. Every doctor and nurse that I have talked with essentially say – “If I get sick with the virus, I want the Chloroquine and Zithromax treatment”. Notably, this treatment combination is often off the shelf around the world. Here in the USA, it requires a prescription.
I tried to get statistics on how many coronavirus patients recover after being put on a ventilator. The data, of course, is limited but from what I could find out only 1 in 5 people survive if the ventilator is applied as an end stage treatment. (Apparently, many of those who don’t survive have underlying conditions like heart conditions, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, or are undergoing cancer treatment.) Notably, ventilators are equipment and labor intensive. Hospital rooms, isolation protocols. doctors and nurses, beds, and even morgues are commonly at or over capacity in the various coronavirus hot spots.
I have heard the arguments that we need more controlled studies and anecdotal evidence isn’t enough. Well, the anecdotal evidence from an increasing number of small studies shows close to a 100% improvement or even cure. I have also heard arguments that these drugs have risks. Well, aspirin usage has risks and death in a ventilator isn’t exactly a low risk approach to dealing with this Chinese import. (One further point: When I get an annual flu shot I am given a disclaimer to sign that basically says I understand the risks. Why then couldn’t I be handed the Chloroquine/Zithromax pills and asked to sign a disclaimer? Pharmacists could even provide a cautionary commentary about when to use – like after a positive Wuhan coronavirus test.)
So what is going on here? I suspect that availability of these drugs is the biggest problem. If every American wanted a five-day supply, we are talking about billions of pills. So far, quantities available are in the tens of millions. The good news is that ramp-up is underway. The significance of using these drugs NOW is that Americans could get back to work NOW. The disruptions to the economy would be minimized. (Take the pills for a few days as a prophylactic and avoid the hospital stay. Further, take the pills and buy time for a better treatment or vaccine to arrive.) Apparently, this is too easy an idea for a political class used to throwing money at problems and pontificating about all the wonderful things they are doing to help their constituents during the crisis.
The bottom line: We are undergoing an unprecedented and calamitous pandemic situation that is costing us trillions of dollars and promises to injure and kill millions of Americans. (The projected death rate is upwards of a quarter of a million.) If America is truly on a war footing, then let’s put all our resources into the fight – and that means Chloroquine and Zithromax for all Americans until something better comes along. A short term less than optimal fix is better than destroying the country.
The politicians, particularly on the left, need to stop the corrupt blame game. it isn’t helping and it is injuring and killing Americans.
