Hydroxychloroquine: US sends Brazil 2 million doses of drug to treat coronavirus despite link to deaths

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Donald Trump’s administration says it has sent 2 million doses of hydroxychloroquine to Brazil to help fight coronavirus, despite a lack of solid evidence for its efficacy and even some suggestions it could be harmful.

The US president claimed last month that he was taking the anti-malarial drug as a prophylactic, after weeks of touting it from his White House podium as a magic bullet.

Trials are underway to determine whether hydroxychloroquine can in fact help prevent or treat Covid-19, while some research has already reported that it can be dangerous for some patients, potentially increasing their risk of death. The World Health Organisation temporarily suspended its own trial of the drug over safety concerns.

The White House said in a statement on Sunday: ”Hydroxychloroquine will be used as a prophylactic to help defend Brazil’s nurses, doctors, and healthcare professionals against the virus. It will also be used as a therapeutic to treat Brazilians who become infected.

“Further, in continuation of the two countries’ longstanding collaboration on health issues, we are also announcing a joint United States-Brazilian research effort that will include randomized controlled clinical trials.

“These trials will help further evaluate the safety and efficacy of hydroxychloroquine for both prophylaxis and the early treatment of the coronavirus.”

Mr Trump and Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s president, have spoken twice since March, when Mr Bolsonaro visited the Mar a Lago resort, the White House added.

Mr Bolsonaro’s government relaxed the rules on using hydroxychloroquine to fight coronavirus in mid-May, allowing it to be given to people with less severe symptoms. “There is still no scientific evidence, but it is being monitored and used in Brazil and worldwide,” he said at the time.

The far-right premier previously likened coronavirus to a “little flu” and has chafed against the lockdown measures implemented by some regional governments – much like his neighbour to the north.

The US has blocked entry to travellers from Brazil as the outbreak there has worsened. The Latin American nation has the second-highest number of coronavirus cases in the world, at about 515,000, and more than 29,300 people there have died, according to Johns Hopkins University.