The outbreak of the Zika virus in Foshan, Guangdong, continues to spread. Foshan recently implemented a real-name system for purchasing medicines, with the addition of Lianhua Qingwen capsules sparking controversy. The manufacturer, Ling Pharmaceuticals, admitted that they did not conduct separate clinical trials on the Zika virus.
On August 4th, the Foshan Market Supervision Bureau issued a notice to implement a key controlled drug information registration management system for retail pharmacies, requiring buyers to register with their real names when purchasing medicines.
Starting from August 1st, the sale of drugs for treating symptoms such as fever, rash, and joint pain caused by the Zika virus will be controlled in all retail pharmacies in the city. A total of 47 types of drugs (including pediatric formulations) require real-name registration for sale, including Wind-cold Granules, Lianhua Qingwen capsules (granules), Ibuprofen (all oral formulations), (compound) Paracetamol (all oral formulations), and Oseltamivir Phosphate (all oral formulations), among others.
The inclusion of Lianhua Qingwen capsules has sparked doubts among netizens.
Lianhua Qingwen, produced by Ling Pharmaceuticals, was introduced during the SARS epidemic in 2002. During the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2022, the Chinese authorities heavily promoted this drug. It has been frequently mentioned in the “Diagnosis and Treatment Plan for New Coronavirus Pneumonia” issued by the National Health Commission and the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Netizens commented, “Here it comes again? The pandemic is not over yet.” “A cure-all or a universal scythe? ” “Changing the soup but not the medicine, repeating old tricks.” “Looks like it won’t sell again.”
According to a report by “V Financial Report,” in response to doubts about whether Lianhua Qingwen can treat Zika, the producer Ling Pharmaceuticals responded that they did not conduct separate clinical trials on the Zika virus, but neither did other companies.
The lockdown of Shanghai in 2022 resulted in serious secondary disasters, with a large number of residents lacking access to sufficient food and medication. However, they received multiple boxes of Lianhua Qingwen, with official media strongly supporting it.
The public account “Dingxiang Doctor,” with a medical background, once published an article stating, “Do not take Lianhua Qingwen as a preventive measure for COVID-19.” The article argued that Lianhua Qingwen has not undergone rigorous clinical trial procedures, making it impossible to verify its actual effectiveness in preventing or treating diseases. There is currently no solid evidence to support the claim that “Lianhua Qingwen can prevent COVID-19,” and it may even have side effects.
Countries like the United States, New Zealand, Sweden, and Australia have banned the entry of Lianhua Qingwen.
In January this year, China faced a high incidence of influenza A, with Lianhua Qingwen also being recommended in various provincial prevention and treatment guidelines, sparking a wave of online criticism.
According to public information, Zika fever is an acute mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by the Zika virus.
The symptoms of the disease are similar to dengue fever, with most patients experiencing mild symptoms such as fever, joint pain, muscle pain, headache, fatigue, and rash. It can also lead to complications in the eyes, heart, and nervous system.
Elderly individuals, especially those with underlying diseases, babies born to infected mothers, and newborns bitten by virus-carrying mosquitoes within the first few weeks of birth, are at a higher risk of developing severe symptoms, even leading to death.
Currently, there is no specific treatment for Zika fever.
According to the latest report from the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, from midnight on July 27th to 24:00 on August 2nd, the province reported an additional 2892 local cases of Zika fever. Prior to this, the Guangdong CDC announced a cumulative total of 4824 local cases of Zika fever as of midnight on July 26th. Therefore, as of August 2nd at 24:00, the total number of local Zika fever cases in the province has increased to 7716. However, due to the Chinese government’s tendency to conceal information, the actual number of cases may be higher.
The number of cities in Guangdong affected by the outbreak has increased to 16, including Foshan, Guangzhou, Zhongshan, Dongguan, Zhuhai, Heyuan, Jiangmen, Yangjiang, Zhaoqing, Qingyuan, Shenzhen, Zhanjiang, Meizhou, Huizhou, Chaozhou, and Yunfu. The outbreak has also spread to Beijing, Hunan, and Hong Kong and Macau.
According to numerous online videos, in Foshan city, especially in the severely affected Shunde district, extreme epidemic prevention measures from the three-year COVID pandemic period have reappeared, including temporary controls, household disinfection, travel history checks, mandatory quarantines, and tests.
Following the recent 14-day self-isolation measure for individuals from Foshan’s epidemic area in Fuzhou, Quanzhou has also adopted similar measures.
According to a report in “Ming Pao,” the epidemic prevention measures in Foshan have driven growth in certain industries, such as orders for installing screen windows and doors. However, other industries have been severely affected, with quiet markets. Many business owners complain that the economy was already struggling, and such extensive measures for a non-lethal Zika outbreak are unnecessary.