Texas Measles Outbreak Linked to RFK Jr.'s Vitamin A Advocacy for Prevention
Warning Bells Ring Over Texas Measles Treatment
controversy swirls around a purported measles cure in Texas, as hospitals report cases of vitamin A toxicity among children treated for the disease. The Children's Hospital in Lubbock, one of the affected areas in West Texas, has treated less than ten children with both measles and vitamin A toxicity.
Initially reported by The New York Times, this issue has been backed by more reports from local media outlets. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, led by Robert F. Kennedy, has advocated for the use of vitamin A as a measles treatment, despite limited evidence supporting its efficacy in the U.S.
Over 500 measles cases have been reported since January in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and possibly Kansas. These outbreaks have occurred among pockets of unvaccinated individuals, with vaccination remaining the most effective means to control the highly contagious disease.
RFK Jr.'s Quack Remedies
Longtime vaccine skeptic, RFK Jr., while tepidly supporting vaccination during these outbreaks, has also promoted questionable treatments. In a lengthy Fox News interview in early March, Kennedy suggested that cod liver oil pills, steroids, and antibiotics could be beneficial for measles.
Although measles can be severe in children with vitamin A deficiency, this deficiency is incredibly rare in the U.S., affecting approximately 0.3% of the general population. The high doses of vitamin A sometimes used to treat measles can lead to toxicity, a problem that seems to be arising with these cases. Over-consumption of vitamin A can result in significant, even irreversible, organ damage.
As of early April, the U.S. has recorded over 600 measles cases, including cases in 17 other states. 97% of these cases involve unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status. Severe complications have led to more than 70 hospitalizations, and a death has been reported, while officials in New Mexico investigate a second possible death connected to measles.
Don't Count on Busted Boosters
These cases and deaths are entirely avoidable, thanks to a highly effective and long-lasting vaccine. RFK's support of vitamin A as a measles treatment is both misguided and harmful, causing unnecessary harm to children with little choice in the matter. The Covenant Children's Hospital in Lubbock advises against excessive vitamin A consumption due to potential side effects.
[1] World Health Organization. (2021). Guidelines on the use of vitamin A supplementation for the prevention and treatment of measles. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241540969[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Measles Questions and Answers for Parents. https://www.cdc.gov/measles/parents/index.html[3] Mayo Clinic. (2021). Vitamin A deficiency. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vitamin-a-deficiency/symptoms-causes/syc-20353529[4] National Institutes of Health. (2021). Vitamin A. https://medlineplus.gov/vitamina.html[5] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2021). Vitamin A Warning Levels. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/vitamin-a-warning-levels
- Despite RFK Jr.'s advocacy, the use of vitamin A as a measles treatment is debunked by numerous health organizations, including the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- The longtime vaccine skeptic, RFK Jr., has promoted questionable treatments for measles, such as cod liver oil pills, steroids, and antibiotics, despite limited evidence supporting their efficacy.
- The future of the population's health is at stake as the misguided promotion of unproven treatments, like high doses of vitamin A, could lead to devastating consequences, such as toxicity and organ damage.
- While tech and innovation have the potential to improve healthcare, the toxicity cases due to the contested measles treatment in Texas underscore the importance of basing medical practices on solid evidence and sound technology, rather than debunked theories, to ensure the well-being of our population.
