====== Chloroquine for the Prevention or Treatment of COVID-19 ======
Prior to the [[:COVID-19]] pandemic, [[:chloroquine]] had a reputation as a relatively safe drug with a long history of usage and well understood safety profile.

===== Research ======

==== Pre-Pandemic Research ====

  * In 2005, researcher Martin Vincent and colleagues noted that chloroquine is a potent inhibitor of SARS coronavirus infection and spread.((August 22, 2005 | Vincent et al | [[:Virology Journal]] | [[https://virologyj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1743-422X-2-69|doi: 10.1186/1743-422X-2-69]]))

===== Controversy =====

==== Cognitive Warfare ====

A [[https://www.innovationhub-act.org/sites/default/files/2021-01/20210122_CW%20Final.pdf|document]] prepared by Innovation Hub for [[:NATO]] describes an intentional deception surrounding chloroquine, perhaps even as a method of inflicting harm:

"As the example of COVID-19 shows, the massive amount of texts on the subject, including deliberately biased texts (example is the Lancet study on chloroquine) created an information and knowledge overload which, in turn, generates both a loss of credibility and a need for closure. Therefore the ability for humans to question, normally, any data/information presented is hampered, with a tendency to fall back on biases to the detriment of unfettered decision-making."((du Cluzel, F., Cole, A., & le Guyader, H. (2020, November). //Cognitive Warfare.// Innovation Hub - ACT. Retrieved November 15, 2021, from https://www.innovationhub-act.org/sites/default/files/2021-01/20210122_CW%20Final.pdf))