DUBAI: The drug  Paracetamol Hasco B500 is not registered and is not circulated in the UAE and has not been officially imported to the country, confirmed Dr Ameen Hussain Al Amiri, assistant undersecretary for public health policy and licenses and chairman of the UAE’s Higher Pharmacovigilance Committee.

We have no warnings from the Health Secretariat of the Arab League or the Executive Office of the GCC. “Therefore, we can not confirm presence or harm of this drug.

And we appeal to the public not to consider or circulate such rumours that harm the system of medicine in the country, and cause panic to the public” Dr. Ameen said.

He warned against spreading rumours about infiltration of unlicensed medicines to country’s pharmacies.

The rumour

Dr Amin pointed out that the Ministry of Health and Community Protection received messages to inquire about a drug for children whose name was mentioned in the social networks, Paracetamol Hasco B500.

They heard that it contains a deadly virus that causes death within 5 days, and its source is unknown.

He called on all segments of the society not to circulate any videos or text messages through social media means regarding health and specifically drugs.