# Unproven Cures Spur Online Panic

> Russia plague scare pushes North America to buy unproven $300 kits.
- Title: Unproven Cures Spur Online Panic · The Straits Times
- Summary: Russia plague scare pushes North America to buy unproven $300 kits. Social media posts urge North American buyers to purchase $300 'cure' kits after…
- Keywords: unproven cures, plague, russia, doxycycline, ivermectin, social media, health misinformation, news, world, Unproven, Cures, Spur
- Source: The Straits Times — https://straitstimes.com/world/unproven-cures-pushed-online-amid-russia-plague-concerns
- Published: 2026-10-08T21:18:06+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: unproven cures, plague, russia, doxycycline, ivermectin, social media, health misinformation, news, world
## Unconfirmed Russian plague death
Reports say a woman employed at a plague research institute in Russia’s Irkutsk region died from the disease.

> A security official looking out from the door of an infectious diseases hospital in the town of Shelekhov, where an employee of the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute is said to have died from the disease
## Social media pushes $300 kits
Influencers urge North Americans to buy US$300 kits before a potential plague crisis.

> Don’t wait until everybody is scrambling. Prepare before you need it
## Wellness Company promotes kits
The Wellness Company brand, fronted by cardiologist Peter McCullough, promoted kits with doxycycline and ivermectin.

> The company is fronted by Peter McCullough, an American cardiologist who has promoted Covid-19 conspiracies and health misinformation debunked by AFP
## Experts warn against kits
Infectious disease specialists say North America does not need plague treatment kits.

> We know how to treat it, but taking antibiotics without known exposure is risky
## Ivermectin misuse risks
Ivermectin is not approved for bacterial diseases and may cause antibiotic resistance.

> You’re altering the microbiome of your gut, and perhaps creating antibiotic resistant bacteria in your body
## Historical health misinformation
Past health scares saw similar unproven solutions promoted online.

> Whenever there is a crisis, especially in the health space, the grifters are gonna come out
## Key takeaway

Social media posts urge North American buyers to purchase $300 'cure' kits after unconfirmed Russian plague death reports.