The short supply of H1N1 vaccine has scam artists out to capitalize on people's fears.

Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Better Business Bureau have issued warnings about online products that claim to prevent or treat swine flu.

The FDA recently purchased five products represented online as Tamiflu and found them ineffective.

One of the orders contained tablets with talc and acetaminophen with no trace of oseltamivir, the active ingredient in Tamiflu.

The FDA urges consumers to only purchase FDA approved products from licensed pharmacies in the United States.

The only two antiviral drugs approved by the FDA to treat H1N1 are Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir).

The FDA has also compiled a list of 143 fraudulent H1N1 products available online.

State epidemiologist Dr Zack Moore said some of the claims are outlandish.

"I think it's concerning. It gives people the wrong idea of how to prevent the flu. If they're reading there's an air purifier to spray in their room and eliminate all the influenza virus-- that's just not how the flu works," said Dr. Moore.

The Eastern North Carolina Better Business Bureau is also stepping up to alert consumers not to open unsolicited emails promising some sort of H1N1 cure.

They also referred to the FDA's warning list.

"These are scams, that's just what they are. They run the gamut: from body washes to sprays and air fresheners to masks to shampoos." said Eastern NC BBB President Beverly Baskin.

The state division of public health suggests your best defense is the H1N1 vaccination.

If you're not part of that high-risk group and still waiting for the shot, Dr. Moore said remember the basics: wash your hands, don't go to work or school if you are sick, and cough or sneeze into your forearm rather than your hands.

Related Links

1. [ FDA ] Fraudulent H1N1 Claims and Bogus H1N1 Products
2. [ BBB ] Full Blown H1N1 Fraud Makes Consumers Sick