Republican candidate for governor, Allen West, says x-rays are showing he has “COVID pneumonia” after his wife was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Friday. West says his wife has been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 but he has not.
According to a Facebook post on West’s page, the couple has been treated with monoclonal antibody infusion therapy.
“I want to thank all of you for your prayers,” says the latest post on West’s page. “There’s a concern about my oxygen saturation levels, which are at 89 and they should be at 95,” continues the post. “My chest X-rays do show COVID pneumonia, not serious. I am probably going to be admitted to the hospital.”
A post from earlier in the day says West was “experiencing a low grade fever and light body aches” and “out of concern for public health” his in person events are suspended.
The post also says he took Ivermectin, which the FDA and the American Medical Association have called for an immediate end to, and hydroxychloroquine. The FDA has cautioned against using hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 outside of a hospital setting or clinical trial due to the risk of heart problems.
Ivermectin is used to treat parasites in animals, and sometimes humans, but it’s not an anti-viral and it’s not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for COVID-19 treatment. It can be taken topically or orally if prescribed by a doctor for its intended use, otherwise, potential side effects can be severe, including neurologic disorders, seizures, coma and even death.