Texas Measles Outbreak Grows as RFK Jr. Pushes Unproven Treatments

There are now 159 measles cases in Texas, and a team from the CDC has come to help.

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is pushing treatments that have not been proven to work, which goes against what most doctors agree on. Kennedy said it was "miraculous" that two doctors in West Texas, including Dr. Richard Bartlett, who has been in trouble before for "unusual use of risk-filled medications," said they had helped people get better by using steroids, antibiotics, and cod liver oil.

In contrast, medical professionals, such as Dr. Peter Hotez, stress that the only proven way to avoid measles is to get vaccinated. This disproves claims that vitamin A or antibiotics can help. Concerns are raised by Bartlett's past support of treatments that have not been proven to work, including during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Doctors say that steroids can weaken the immune system, which could make measles worse, and medicines don't work against viruses.

The CDC and other public health experts say again that the MMR vaccine is very important for protection. After two doses, it is 97% effective. Dr. William Moss makes it clear that vitamin A does not prevent measles, but it can help kids in poor countries who are severely malnourished.

Texas is seeing a rise in hospitalizations, and Kennedy's confused messages have been criticized. Admiral Dr. Brett Giroir told parents to rely on vaccinations instead of vitamin A.

Health officials and doctors in Texas are stressing how important it is for everyone to get vaccinated against measles, because everyone is at risk, no matter what their health is like.

Even though Kennedy agrees that vaccines work, making immunization a personal choice makes it harder to control the spread.

‍