A few more words about Ivermectin
Proper word choice is of the upmost importance when writing for a newspaper. Last week, when reporting on COVID-19 complaints coming before the Clark County Board of Health, I believe I erred when describing a drug known as Ivermectin. In the article, I referred to it as a “horse de-wormer whose use has been discouraged by the CDC and several other government entities.”
If I had to do it over again, I would have chosen my words more carefully.
First off, Ivermectin is not just a horsedewormer; it has many non-veterinary uses that are beneficial to humans. In fact, it is a highly effective anti-parasitic drug that can be used to treat everything from head lice and rosacea to roundworms and some horrible tropical disease called strongyloidiasis. The FDA has not approved its use for treatment of COVID-19, but many people — especially in this area — swear that it is a safe, costeffective treatment for the disease. When writing a story on deadline with limited time and space, it’s common to grasp for the easiest, most concise description of whatever you’re writing about. Having never written about Ivermectin before, I went for the simplest definition that came to mind, based on reports in other media. It was sloppy of me to do this, as it didn’t fully capture what the drug is or its status as a widely used human medication.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us in the media to write about an ever-growing body of research into the disease itself while also trying to combat fast-moving misinformation. With that mind, it’s worth noting that the Food and Drug Administration, Centers of Disease Control and the World Health Organizations have all issued warnings that Ivermectin is not an approved treatment for COVID-19, and that misuse can be dangerous.
However, it is also true that large-scale studies are underway in the United States and Britain to determine if Ivermectin could be safely used to treat the coronavirus. Many people, based on early reports of the drug’s effectiveness, have taken it upon themselves to obtain the drug and use it to treat COVID-19.
As a journalist, I feel obligated to inform my readers about public health warnings, while at the same time, acknowledging the reality that not everyone trusts those warnings. I realize that anecdotal evidence — basically, people’s lived experiences — can be some of the most compelling evidence available, even if it contradicts the “official” stance of entities considered to be authorities.
So, if I could go back and revise my article, I would have referred to Ivermectin, as “an anti-parastic medication used by some to treat COVID-19 despite public health warnings.” I think that more adequately defines what the drug is.
OUT FOR A WALK
KEVIN O’BRIEN
EDITOR
