The World Health Organization recommended Tuesday that people suffering COVID-19 symptoms avoid taking ibuprofen, after French officials warned that anti-inflammatory drugs could worsen effects of the virus.
Asked about the study, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier told reporters in Geneva the UN health agency's experts were "looking into this to give further guidance.".
"In the meantime, we recommend using rather paracetamol, and do not use ibuprofen as a self-medication.
He added that if ibuprofen had been "prescribed by the healthcare professionals, then, of course, that's up to them.".
His comments came after Veran sent a tweet cautioning that the use of ibuprofen and similar anti-inflammatory drugs could be "an aggravating factor" in COVID-19 infections.
The French minister stressed that patients already being treated with anti-inflammatory drugs should ask advice from their doctor.
"We do not currently believe there is any proven scientific evidence linking over-the-counter use of ibuprofen to the aggravation of COVID-19," the statement said. »