Mississippi officials warn against using livestock ivermectin to prevent COVID-19 after rise in poison control calls

Mississippi's poison control center has seen a rise in calls of people taking livestock ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19.

Mississippi's poison control center has seen an increase in calls of people taking ivermectin, including versions of the deworming drug intended for livestock, to treat or prevent COVID-19, according to state health officials. The Mississippi Health Department took to social media Friday to issue a warning about the phenomenon, which has been reported throughout the pandemic. "Do not use ivermectin products made for animals," it said in a Facebook post. The Mississippi Health Department also issued an alert Friday to health care providers in the state regarding the increase in poison control calls due to potential ivermectin toxicity.