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Italians run out of baby milk supplement, convinced it protects from the virus

Italian pharmacists are facing a huge increase in demand for a niche product generally marketed as an immune system booster for babies, weeks after a viral video suggested it could protect against the coronavirus.

Lactoferrin, a protein found in high concentrations in breast milk, was subjected to a small clinical trial in Rome and experts have reported positive results, but said more research is needed.

There was no confirmation that the drug is effective against the new coronavirus, but pharmacies in central Rome have told AFP that they are dealing with a dramatic increase in demand in a country with one of the highest death rates in Europe.

“We don’t know anything about this product, we are also in the dark on this,” a pharmacist told AFP on condition of anonymity, confirming that demand was increasing. “When people are scared, they believe in anything.”

The purchase of lactoferrin followed a local report in July in which Elena Campione, professor of dermatology at Tor Vergata University in Rome, made strong statements about her investigation.

“We decided to treat patients with covid-19, in the initial stage of the disease. It was incredible, but 10 days after starting therapy, the symptoms disappeared and the PCR test (for coronavirus) was negative,” he said.

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