Texas doctor pushes ivermectin again as hantavirus concerns grow
Chron • • general
Key Points:
- Houston doctor Mary Bowden, known for promoting ivermectin during the COVID-19 pandemic, is now selling the drug directly to Texans and advocating its use against hantavirus despite lack of FDA approval.
- Bowden claims ivermectin can inhibit viral replication of hantavirus, but public health experts and the FDA have rejected these claims, emphasizing the drug is only approved for certain parasitic infections.
- Texas law changes in 2025 allow pharmacists to dispense ivermectin without a prescription, prompting Bowden to sell the drug at set prices, citing difficulties in access and cost despite the new legislation.
- Bowden is currently involved in a legal dispute with the Texas Medical Board over unauthorized patient treatment, with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton publicly supporting her fight for medical freedom.
- The Texas Medical Board maintains its stance on disciplining Bowden to protect hospital care standards, while public reactions to her recent posts remain sharply divided between criticism and support.
