Blood of coronavirus survivors being sold in black market as fake COVID-19 vaccine
By Lokmat English Desk | Updated: May 2, 2020 17:02 IST2020-05-02T17:02:08+5:302020-05-02T17:02:08+5:30
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Blood claiming to be from coronavirus survivors is being sold on the black market as a bogus vaccine, researchers have found.
The Australian Institute of Criminology has said blood is just one in hundreds of “products” being used to tout “makeshift vaccines”.
Conmen are selling blood along with other bogus vaccines for up to £13,000, preying on the fears of thousands of people.
Large amounts of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), including N95 masks, surgical gloves, and protective suits are also being sold.
Anti-malaria drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are being flogged with false claims they can cure coronavirus.
Lead researcher Rod Broadhurst said the blood would be used to inject someone who may be at risk of the virus, reports ABC.
Mr Broadhurst said: "The word I think is passive vaccination, where the blood plasma of a recovered Covid-19 patient is harvested for the antibodies and that is then used to inject into someone who may be at risk of Covid-19."
Out of the 645 vendors found selling fake products by AIC, 394 were in the United States.
Up to 39 conmen were based in the EU, 17 in Britain and three in China and Australia - with other nations making up the rest of the list.
Analyst group Ghost Data said more than 10,000 Instagram accounts – many linked to China – were found selling Covid-19 products.
