US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy has centered his response to the outbreak on vitamin A, even suggesting in a Fox News interview that it could work “as a prophylaxis.”
But overuse of vitamin A can have serious health consequences, and there is no evidence that it can prevent measles.
Vitamin A is most useful for measles support in people who have a specific deficiency, and studies suggesting its use mainly draw on evidence from low-income countries where that deficiency is common. The patients in West Texas are generally well-nourished, said Dr. Lesley Motheral, a pediatrician in Lubbock, so experts say it’s unclear how beneficial the vitamin might be in this setting.
Vitamin A has an important role in immunity and vision. It’s fat-soluble, so when someone takes too much, it can accumulate in organs like the liver. Excess vitamin A can cause dry skin and eyes, blurry vision, bone thinning, skin irritation, liver damage and other serious issues. In pregnant women, excess vitamin A can lead to birth defects.
Kennedy endorsed an unconventional treatment regimen for measles including a steroid, an antibiotic and cod liver oil, which is rich in vitamin A. He praised two West Texas doctors who he said were using this remedy on their patients and had seen “almost miraculous and instantaneous recovery.”
The antibiotic, clarithromycin, could be an attempt to prevent secondary bacterial infections like pneumonia, but evidence for that is limited. Budesonide is a steroid with a variety of uses, but it’s not clear whether or how it might help someone with measles
State of Texas now reporting 400 cases…up from 327 3 days ago.
2 cases in Hockley .
The Texas Department of State Health Services is reporting an outbreak of measles in the South Plains and Panhandle regions of Texas. At this time, 400 cases have been identified since late January. Forty-one of the patients have been hospitalized.
Looks like spread is picking up :(. Think this may be the biggest jump
we’ve seen …so far.
The measles outbreak in western Texas has hit 481 cases, with 59 newly identified infections confirmed over the last three days,
I blame weak government officials that have put into place all these exceptions and exemptions. And their failure to speak strongly about encouraging vaccinations. Pathetic.
Yeah, looks like it was measles and only
measles now being reported…
“We are deeply saddened to report that a school-aged child who was recently diagnosed with measles has passed away,” a spokesperson for the UMC Health System in Texas said in a statement to ABC News.
“The child was receiving treatment for complications of measles while hospitalized. It is important to note that the child was not vaccinated against measles and had no known underlying health conditions,” the statement continued.
Texas up from 481 to 505 since last report. Can’t really tell from graph if we’ve peaked or not. Seen it stated a few times this will probably be ongoing through out the year with the low vaccination rates in Texas. Two kids with no underlying conditions already dead.
WHAT?
Europe had 127,350 measles cases were reported in the European Region in 2024, double the number of cases reported for 2023 and the highest number since 1997, according to an analysis by WHO and UNICEF.
A total of 38 deaths have been reported, based on preliminary data received as of 6 March 2025. https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/european-region-reports-highest-number-measles-cases-more-25-years-unicef-whoeurope
One measle case is too many but why do we have so much less measles cases than Europe?
Texas is closing in on 600 cases. In other outbreak developments, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services yesterday confirmed the state’s first measles cases since 1990. Officials said they are investigating five cases, which include children and adults living in Gallatin County who were exposed to measles while traveling outside of the state.
All were unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status.
