CLAIM
Swine flu cases have returned to India and so have the various messages with ‘cures’ to treat it.
According to the National Centre for Disease Control’s data from 1 to 27 January 2019, the H1N1 influenza has caused 169 deaths all over the country and 4571 cases have been detected in 27 days.
Amid the increasing panic among people, forward messages saying the disease can be helped by Himalaya's Septilin have resurfaced. The same information has been doing rounds on internet and our inboxes since 2015.
This year, the message along with the picture of Septilin, reads “This swine flu medicine is available at ayurvedic stores. Name: Septilin Tablet and Syrup. Do a favour and forward this message, there have been 100 deaths in 3 days. Your one message can save someone’s life.”
TRUE OR FALSE?
The viral message contains false information and the medicine has nothing to do with swine flu.
However, the same information resurfaces almost every year as and when there are increasing number of swine flu cases.
Himalaya has denied claims of its product helping with H1N1 and had issued a statement regarding the same last year.
Meanwhile, speaking to The Quint, Dr Suranjit Chatterjee, senior consultant at Internal Medicine at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals dismissed Septilin’s role in swine flu and said there is no scientific data or study to prove it.
“In our science, there is nothing that exists like this. There is no scientific data or study that I know of. I cannot recommend that it should be used in case of swine flu.”Dr Suranjit Chatterjee, senior consultant, Internal Medicine at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals
He also suggested that if there is a case of swine flu, people should visit the local physician or paediatrician, get them investigated.
The product description also does not claim any such thing and only promotes the product as an immunity booster.
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