In a statement posted on its official website, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has sent out official warnings to nine prescription drug companies, forbidding them from marketing drugs that claim to treat the avian flu. In the statement, the FDA said it is "not aware of any scientific evidence that demonstrates the safety or effectiveness of these products for treating or preventing avian flu" and that it "is concerned that the use of these products could harm consumers or interfere with conventional treatments."

The implicated drug companies have been making these drugs appear effective against the bird flu and other forms of influenza by marketing the drugs with phrases such as "prevents avian flu," "a natural virus shield," and "kills the virus." Most of these are also marketed as dietary supplements, and the agency requires approval before they can be sold.

"There are initiatives in place to deter counterfeiters and those who sell fraudulent or phony products to prevent or treat avian flu," said FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach. "The use of unproven flu cures and treatments increases the risk of catching and spreading the flu rather than lessening it, because people assume they are protected and safe and they aren't."

The FDA sent warning letters to the following nine companies: Sacred Mountain Management Inc., BODeSTORE.com, Melvin Williams, Iceland Health Inc., PolyCil Health Inc., PRB Pharmaceuticals Inc., Chozyn LLC, Vitacost.com and Healthworks 2000. The companies were given 15 days to respond.

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