Actor Laurence Fox has hit out at an Oxford doctor, who advised him against the use of a 'horse de-wormer' as a way to treat Covid-19.

The Lewis star revealed on Sunday that he had contracted the virus and had tested positive on a Lateral Flow Test.

Taking to social media, Fox tweeted he was “On the #Ivermectin, saline nasal rinse, quercetin, paracetamol and ibruprofen.”

READ MORE: Lewis star Laurence Fox tests positive for Covid-19

Upon hearing the news of Fox testing positive Rachel Clarke, an Oxford-based palliative care doctor, said: “I wish Laurence Fox a very speedy recovery - but it’s important to stress there is no clear evidence that Ivermectin (a horse de-wormer) reduces the risks of catching Covid, or its severity.

“We do have excellent evidence-based Covid treatments, though.”

Fox responded: “Thank you for your well wishes. #Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic drug administered to millions of people each year worldwide.

“It also has well known anti viral qualities. Dismissing it as a horse-dewormer is insulting to the people who rely on it and also the owners of horses.”

Ivermectin is a drug approved for human and animal use to treat infections caused by some parasitic worms, head lice and certain skin conditions. It is not proven to be effective against Covid-19, however vaccine sceptics such as Joe Rogan have promoted the use of it.

Last year the World Health Organisation recommended that Ivermectin should only be used to treat Covid-19 within clinical trials.

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