Measles Outbreak in West Texas Worsens as Unproven Treatments Raise Concerns

Over 300 cases and two deaths have been confirmed, with reports of vitamin A toxicity in children linked to alternative remedies promoted by RFK Jr.

The ongoing measles outbreak in West Texas has spread to over 17 states and Canada, with over 300 confirmed cases and two deaths as of March 28, 2025.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has promoted unproven treatments like vitamin A and cod liver oil, which medical experts warn are ineffective outside hospital settings and may cause harm.
Some children in West Texas have been hospitalized with vitamin A toxicity, reportedly after parents followed RFK Jr.'s recommendations for alternative remedies.
Vaccination rates in Gaines County, the epicenter of the outbreak, have risen by 10% compared to 2024 but remain below herd immunity thresholds.
The CDC continues to support local health departments with pro-vaccine messaging, but resistance persists, particularly in isolated Mennonite communities that have refused to host measles-testing sites.