Dear Editor,

As Covid is currently overwhelming our hospitals, and schools and businesses struggle to stay open, we look to our elected officials for guidance and support. On Jan. 12 State Rep. Curt Nisly introduced House Bill 1372 to allow doctors to prescribe Ivermectin, a drug to treat parasites in livestock. This is not only a waste of time, it presents a clear danger to anyone who takes the drug in hopes it might cure Covid.

Instead of promoting measures that are known to be effective, like vaccines, masks and social distancing, Nisly is endangering the public by pushing a drug for which the FDA says it has received multiple reports of patients who have required medical attention, including hospitalization.

At a time like this, we need politicians to lead and follow the science. Politicians who try to frame this as a fight for personal freedoms and against big government are doing so for their own political gain. This is no time to play politics with our health. Curt Nisly should immediately revoke House Bill 1372.

Robert Osbun
Leesburg