Foreign
Desk
| April 14, 2003, Monday
A
RESPIRATORY ILLNESS: CASHING IN; The
Internet Is Awash in Ads for Products
Promising Cures or Protection
By MELODY PETERSEN (NYT) 984 words
Late Edition - Final , Section A ,
Page 12 , Column 1
ABSTRACT
- Federal health officials warn consumers to
be wary of advertisements on Internet for
products claiming to prevent SARS; Food and
Drug Administration Comr Mark B McClellen
says risk of contracting disease in United
States is 'very, very low,' and there is no
evidence that any specific drug is effective
against it; photos (M) Type ''SARS'' into an
Internet search engine and advertisements
from a variety of companies pop up offering
products as diverse as health supplements,
disinfectants and special protective suits
that marketers say will keep the new
disease, severe acute respiratory syndrome,
at bay.
One company offers a disinfectant that it
says ''kills SARS supervirus.'' A supplement
maker advertises a pill that it says will
ward off SARS by bolstering the immune
system. Another Web site offers the ''SARS
protective kit,'' including a respirator,
antimicrobial hand-cleaners and a pair of
latex gloves, all on sale for $155.
PURCHASING
FROM NYTIMES.COM IS QUICK AND
SECURE.
To read the complete article,
simply click on one of the BUY
NOW buttons below.
You can buy
this single article or, for even
greater value, you can purchase
this article as part of a
multi-pack. You'll then have the
opportunity to buy additional
articles now or in the future at
significant savings!
Purchase
Single Article -- $2.95
Purchase as part of Article
4-Pack -- $7.95 ($1.99/article - a 33%
savings!)
Pack expires after 1 month
Purchase as part of Article
10-Pack -- $15.95 ($1.60/ article - a 46%
savings!)
Pack expires after 3 months
Purchase as part of Article
25-Pack -- $25.95 ($1.05/ article - a 65%
savings!)
Pack expires after 6 months
How multi-packs work: A
multi-pack is an archive package that saves
you money by allowing you to pre-purchase a
set number of articles in bulk at a reduced
price. You can then debit from your
multi-pack and quickly access articles from
the archive at your convenience over the
lifetime of the multi-pack.
Once you purchase an
article, you may view it as often as you
like over the next 90 days. Archive articles
do not include photos, charts or graphics
ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND
MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION
PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS
OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR
LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND
COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH
YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.
"A foolish faith in authority is the worst enemy of truth."
-- Albert Einstein, letter to a friend, 1901
"I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves, and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education."
-- Thomas Jefferson, letter to William C. Jarvis, September 28, 1820
"What's the point of vaccination if it doesn't protect you from the unvaccinated?"
-- Sandy Gottstein
"Who gets to decide what the greater good is and how many will be sacrificed to it?"