Republican House member from Kansas says he and multiple family members are taking hydroxychloroquin

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Republican congressman from Kansas says he has been taking a malaria drug being touted by President Donald Trump as a way to protect against the coronavirus, despite warnings that it could have potentially fatal side effects.

U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall, who is running for the U.S. Senate, said he doesn’t have COVID-19 but is taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventative drug. His parents, siblings and wife also are taking the drug, a spokesman for Marshall told the Kansas City Star on Tuesday.

“I would encourage any person over the age of 65 or with an underlying medical condition to talk to their own physician about taking hydroxychloroquine and I’m relieved President Trump is taking it,” Marshall reportedly told the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the congressman’s use of the drug.

Trump said Monday that he has been taking the drug and a zinc supplement for more than a week. His decision comes despite guidance from health officials in his administration that the drug should be administered only in hospital or research settings.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/republican-house-member-says-he-and-multiple-family-members-are-taking-hydroxychloroquine-to-ward-off-coronavirus-2020-05-21?siteid=yhoof2&yptr=yahoo