An Australian television news report about Queen Elizabeth's COVID-19 infection included footage showing a package of Ivermectin due to an "editing error," the Nine Network told Reuters.
The clip caused social media users online to assume the monarch was using the drug, when details of her treatment have not been disclosed.
One clip on twitter garnered over 1.2 million views over the course of Feb. 21, 2022. At 0:19, the clip includes images of a box of the drug Stromectol, better known as Ivermectin.
"So the Queen gets ivermectin but YOU CANT," reads a tweet.
"The Queen has been recommended Ivermectin from a specialist doctor to recover from coronavirus," reads part of another.
The channel, however, said it aired the Stromectol clip by mistake, and there is no other evidence that the Queen has been given Ivermectin. A spokesperson for the Nine Network show 'A Current Affair' told Reuters via email, "it was an editing error, the shot shouldn't have been included in the story," and that the clip was being removed from its platforms in light of the error.
Ivermectin is an approved drug by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration for treating parasites in animals and humans.
The agency has repeatedly warned against using it for COVID-19.
Various clinical trials investigating whether ivermectin could be used as a viable treatment for COVID-19 have either been completed or continue to take place, as can be seen from a search of the ClinicalTrials.gov website.
Queen Elizabeth, the world's longest reigning monarch, tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday. Buckingham Palace tries to avoid releasing details about her health as it says medical matters are private. "The Queen has today tested positive for COVID," Buckingham Palace said. "Her Majesty is experiencing mild cold like symptoms but expects to continue light duties at Windsor over the coming week.".
The Queen's physician did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Reuters
