Texas kids treated for vitamin A toxicity after RFK Jr. said the supplement fights measles

Last Week, Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock told Texas Public Radio that its staff was treating 10 children suffering from complications caused by measles and exacerbated by abnormal liver function caused by elevated levels of Vitamin A.

The incidents follow Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. requiring the Centers for Disease Control to update its measles guidance to promote the use of vitamin A, according to both TPR and Texas news site the Barbed Wire. Kennedy, a high-profile vaccine skeptic, earlier this month ordered the CDC to recommend the vitamin supplement as a means to manage measles symptoms.

The updated CDC recommendation includes a link to a position paper from the World Health Organization on measles vaccines published in April 2017. However, the paper doesn’t cite evidence that vitamin A can cure or help alleviate measles symptoms. Instead, it argues that people who are vitamin A deficient may be more susceptible to the disease.

Even so, in a Fox News opinion piece published March 2, Kennedy wrote that “studies have shown that vitamin A can dramatically reduce measles mortality.” He included a link in his editorial to a 2010 paper, which states in its abstract that randomized control trials of vitamin A measles treatments “found no significant reduction in measles mortality.”

Overdoses of vitamin A can cause ailments ranging from headaches and diarrhea to liver damage and birth defects, according to the Mayo Clinic.

The Texas Health and Human Services Department last Friday said there have been more than 400 measles cases reported in the state since January, nearly all among people who are either unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status.

So far, 41 people have been hospitalized, and the outbreak has also led to one Texas death — a school-aged child near the center of the outbreak.

Subscribe to SA Current newsletters.

Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter| Or sign up for our RSS Feed

Related Stories

The CDC buried a measles forecast that stressed the need for vaccinations

The move — along with the CDC’s explanation — is a sign that the nation’s top public health agency may be falling in line under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime critic of vaccines.

Texas measles cases rise to 400, the outbreak’s biggest 3-day spike

The number of cases has jumped 73 cases over a three-day period. State officials said their team focused on completing open investigations of measles this week.

San Antonio Rep. Joaquin Castro blasts Trump over cutting HHS jobs amid Texas measles outbreak

Castro said the cuts will lead to slower responses to public health emergencies, limit access to health programs and increase costs.

Texas is poised to make measles a nationwide epidemic, public health experts say

Public health experts say Texas needs better messaging on vaccinations and quarantining and more people conducting contact tracing to contain the spread.

Texas measles outbreak jumps to 2 new counties, both nearly 300 miles from epicenter

So far 422 people have been infected in the state’s worst outbreak of the diseases in 30 years.

Texas measles cases jump to 481 as hospitalizations continue to rise

To date, 56 of those infected have been placed under hospital care, and two neighboring states report infections.

Gov. Greg Abbott silent about vaccinations as second child dies in Texas measles outbreak

Even though state health officials learned of the death Thursday, Abbott spent the weekend tweeting about school vouchers.

In tweet about Texas measles outbreak, RFK Jr. praises pair of anti-vax doctors

Kennedy’s latest comments came after he visited with the family of the second child to die from Texas’ measles outbreak.

Texas’ number of measles cases has doubled over past month, now reaching 505

The number of Texas counties with infections has also increased to 21 from 19.

Federal cuts force closure of San Antonio vaccination clinic as measles outbreak ravages Texas

The clinic will close due to another round of federal funding cuts courtesy of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

Bird flu discovered in skunks, raccoons, cats and foxes in six Texas counties

The virus’ jump to other types of mammals comes as the Trump White House has slashed jobs and budgets at the Centers for Disease Control.

Clip shows Texas doctor treating patients while he has measles

The doctor was back at work a day after his rash appeared. Medical experts say he was still contagious.

This article appears in Mar 19 – Apr 1, 2025.