Biosecurity

CIA 'warns its workforce of potentially fatal side-effects' of Malaria drug that was hailed by Donald Trump as a 'game changer' in the battle against Covid-19

CIA employees have been privately warned against taking an anti-malaria drug hailed by Donald Trump as a 'game changer' in the war on coronavirus.

Sudden death is one of the suspected side effects of hydroxychloroquine, according to the intelligence agency in a memo to its workforce posted online.

Despite a lack of medical evidence, the President has heavily promoted the drug as a possible treatment for Covid-19, which has killed 23,675 and infected 588,421 in the United States. 

But amid positive noises surrounding the drug emerging from the daily White House press briefings, Langley made its concern clear.

Hydroxychloroquine is 'not recommended to be used by patients except by medical professionals prescribing it as part of ongoing investigation studies,' according to the advice seen by the Washington Post.