Thai Disease Control Dept insists Favipiravir is effective in treating COVID-19

13 Sept 11:33 Key points summarised by AI

The Thai Disease Control Department (DCD) firmly defends Favipiravir's efficacy in treating COVID-19, urging critics not to undervalue the antiviral medication.
Dr. Opart Karnkawinpong, DCD director-general, cited a Thai study showing 79% improvement in COVID-19 patients treated with Favipiravir after 14 days, significantly higher than the 32.2% in a control group.
The DCD maintains that Favipiravir is effective for mild and moderate symptoms, leading to patient recovery and discharge, and assures that patient safety is the Ministry of Public Health's top priority.
A recent meta-analysis published in "Nature" concluded that Favipiravir possibly showed no significant beneficial effect on mortality in mild to moderate COVID-19 patients, suggesting antivirals might be administered too late and calls for more extensive clinical trials.

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