Madagascar finds keen takers for tonic touted as coronavirus drug

Madagascar is building a factory to mass-produce a drink that's touted by authorities and some African leaders as a 'cure' for COVID-19 even though it hasn't been clinically tested or approved by drug regulators.

Sold as Covid-Organics, the drink contains extracts of the artimisia annua plant, which is used to treat malaria. The factory will be operational within a month, according to President Andry Rajoelina. "Our researchers and scientists are doing the necessary to make our coronavirus remedy a drug that meets the standards," he said on state TV.

The president of Tanzania, John Magufuli, has said he's sending a plane to Madagascar to fetch the tonic, and Rajoelina said on Twitter that Equatorial Guinea's vice minister for health had arrived in the country to procure an unknown quantity. Other countries that have shown interest are Senegal, Guinea-Bissau and Comoros, Rajoelina said.