Coronavirus: Fox News positively promotes anti-malaria drug nearly 300 times in two weeks, report says

Scientists warn more data is needed to show if the drug treats Covid-19

Fox News has positively covered the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine nearly 300 times in just a two-week period, according to a report.

Media Matters for America, a progressive, nonprofit media watchdog, documented how many times conservative news organisation Fox News promoted hydroxychloroquine on its programs from 23 March to 6 April.

The organisation found the drug and its variant chloroquine, which could help treat symptoms of Covid-19, was promoted 275 times for its potential benefits against the novel virus. To contrast, there were only 29 negative mentions about the drugs.

Hydroxychloroquine was previously approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1955 to help treat malaria. Lupus patients also use the drug to aid joint inflammation from the disease.

But interest in the drug rose last month after France released a limited study showing faster clearance of the virus when used for some patients. The limited study is controversial among scientists, though, because it tossed out the six patients, one of whom died, that didn't react well to the drug during the study.

A limited study in China also looked into the benefits of hydroxychloroquine for Covid-19 patients and found it helped relieve some of the more mild symptoms of the disease.

President Donald Trump has continually promoted hydroxychloroquine during his press briefings, calling the drug a "game-changer". During his briefings on Monday and Tuesday, the president implored the American public to "try it" as a treatment or preventative measure.

His heightened interest could be sparked, in part, by the promotion of the drug treatment on Fox News, his network of choice.

Media Matters for America found the Fox News guest who promoted hydroxychloroquine the most was Dr Mehemt Oz, who made at least 40 statements promoting the drug during the 15-day time period.

Fox News host Laura Ingraham promoted the drug 35 times while her colleague Sean Hannity made 27 positive claims about the drug.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Dr Anthony Fauci, who is also a member of the White House's coronavirus task force, has been more sceptical about the benefits of hydroxychloroquine.

He appeared on Fox News three times during the 15-day period and expressed caution about people taking the drug prior to more data showing the potential benefits.

Fox News was previously compared to CNN and MSNBC by the nonprofit in a report looking at coverage from 23 March to 25 March. It found CNN only positively promoted the drug five times compared to 45 critical mentions. MSNBC never positively promoted the drug and instead had 22 critical mentions during the time period.

The FDA announced emergency authorisation for hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19 patients on 28 March after the continual promotion of the drug from the president.

Researchers have also launched clinical trials across the US to determine if there are benefits to taking the drug. Data about the benefits or risks are anticipated by researchers within the next month.