Adding to the litany of mea culpas regarding the use of ivermectin – a still unproven alternative treatment for the coronavirus – the Associated Press recently issued a correction to a report alleging that 70% of poison control cases in Mississippi were linked to the drug’s ingestion.
Published in late August, the original article said that up to 70% of calls to Mississippi Poison Control were related to the use of ivermectin. Several days later, the Associated Press issued a correction putting the actual number at 2%.
This story was first published on Aug. 23, 2021. It was updated on Aug. 25, 2021 to correct that the number of calls to poison control about ivermectin was about 2%. Incorrect information provided by the Mississippi Department of Health had said the number was 70%.
The Associated Press did, however, make a clear distinction between ivermectin used for livestock animals and ivermectin used to treat humans. In Mississippi’s case, 70% of calls relating to ivermectin were side effects stemming from “medicine purchased at livestock supply centers used to treat humans.” From the AP:
BREAKING REPORT: AP CORRECTS ARTICLE claiming 70 PERCENT of calls to Mississippi Poison Control were about ivermectin ingestion, ACTUAL NUMBER 2 Percent..
— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) September 6, 2021
BREAKING REPORT: AP CORRECTS ARTICLE claiming 70 PERCENT of calls to Mississippi Poison Control were about ivermectin ingestion, ACTUAL NUMBER 2 Percent..
— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) September 6, 2021