A rapidly expanding measles outbreak in West Texas has prompted Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to highlight unconventional treatments such as cod liver oil and antibiotics, while notably avoiding calls for vaccination.
During a prerecorded interview aired on Fox News, Kennedy detailed the federal government’s efforts to combat the outbreak in Gaines County, the epicenter of the crisis. He stated that doses of vitamin A were being distributed to affected individuals and that ambulance rides were being arranged for severe cases. However, he made no mention of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, a key tool in preventing outbreaks.
Texas doctors have reportedly used a combination of treatments, including the steroid budesonide, the antibiotic clarithromycin, and cod liver oil, which Kennedy claimed contained beneficial levels of vitamins A and D. While vitamin A is sometimes administered to children with severe measles cases, medical experts remain skeptical of other suggested treatments.
Dr. Sean O’Leary, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases, stated that cod liver oil is “by no means an evidence-based treatment for measles.” He further emphasized that he had never encountered physicians using the supplement in measles cases.
In what appeared to be a critique of conventional public health measures, Kennedy asserted, “We’re going to be honest with the American people for the first time in history about all of the tests and studies, about what we know and what we don’t know.” He added that this transparency might frustrate those who support traditional public health interventions.
Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has dispatched a team of “disease detectives” to Texas to aid in containment efforts.
Outbreak Worsens Amid Vaccination Concerns
State health officials reported that nearly 160 people have contracted measles since late January, with 22 requiring hospitalization. One child has died from complications related to the virus.
The outbreak has been concentrated within a Mennonite community in Gaines County, where vaccination rates have historically been lower. Many families within the community avoid seeking medical care, leading experts to believe the actual case count may be significantly higher.
Katherine Wells, public health director in Lubbock, Texas, estimated that the true number of infections is in the hundreds. “We know that some of their schools were closed with lots of sick children, but we don’t know who those children were,” she said.
Experts stress that at least 95% of a population must be vaccinated to prevent outbreaks. However, state records show that only 82% of kindergarteners in Gaines County had received the MMR vaccine last year, and national rates have also declined. The CDC reported that only 93% of U.S. kindergarteners were vaccinated in the 2023-24 school year, down from 95% before the pandemic.
“The risk is no longer just confined to individual communities,” said Dr. Michael Mina, a vaccine expert and former epidemiology professor at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “A case in one of them can ignite cases in all of them.”
Escalating Risks and Potential Consequences
Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through respiratory droplets. While most cases resolve within a few weeks, severe complications such as pneumonia, brain swelling, blindness, and long-term immune suppression can occur.
The CDC estimates that one in five measles patients will require hospitalization, and research suggests that before widespread vaccination, measles may have contributed to nearly half of all infectious disease deaths in children.
Despite the outbreak’s severity, Kennedy’s reluctance to endorse vaccination has sparked criticism. Public health experts continue to urge parents to immunize their children, warning that declining vaccination rates are leaving more communities vulnerable to preventable diseases.
With the outbreak showing no signs of abating, health officials are ramping up efforts to control its spread. Whether Kennedy’s focus on alternative treatments will shift remains to be seen, but the urgency for widespread vaccination remains paramount.
