A study conducted in Brazil demonstrated that ivermectin was completely ineffective in improving patient outcomes with respect to resolution of clinical symptoms, hospitalization, intensive care or death rate.  Results of the study, conducted under the leadership of The National Institute of Health, examined outcomes in 1,348 adults in Brazil testing positive for COVID and at risk of developing severe clinical signs.  Half of the patients received ivermectin for three consecutive days with the corresponding control group receiving a placebo.

In commenting on the results, Dr. Peter Hotez, Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine noted, “This is the first large, prospective study that should really help put to rest the status of ivermectin and not give any credibility to its use against COVID 19.”

This commentator recognizes that there are no simple “quick fixes” to complex financial, health, logistical or environmental challenges irrespective of how politically expedient or socially comforting they may seem to be when proposed.