RFK Jr. spotlights vitamin to fight rapidly spreading measles but experts say not so fast

As measles cases continue to emerge in several U.S.states, treatment and prevention are top of mind.As most infected individuals have been unvaccinated, school-aged children, U.S.

health agencies have stressed the importance of receiving two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine to prevent the disease.In a recent Fox News Digital op-ed, HHS secretary RFK Jr.shared his “deep concern” about the measles outbreak and its rapid escalation.RFK Jr.

noted that while there is no approved antiviral for measles, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a statement last week supporting the administration of vitamin A under physician supervision as supportive care.Previous research published in the International Journal of Epidemiology has shown that vitamin A, in conjunction with the measles vaccine, can be an effective intervention in preventing measles mortality in children.RFK Jr.reiterated the importance of maintaining good nutrition and consuming various vitamins — like A, B12, C, D and E — as the “best defense against” chronic and infectious illness.While studies have suggested that vitamin A can help fight a measles infection, Neil Maniar, PhD, MPH, professor of public health practice at Northeastern University in Boston, reiterated that it does not prevent the disease.“The two-dose MMR vaccine is our safest and most effective tool to prevent this highly contagious illness,” he told Fox News Digital.“Vitamin A can be helpful as part of a broader treatment protocol, especially in areas where children are deficient.”Vitamin A can reduce the severity of measles symptoms, as well as the likelihood of mortality from the disease in individuals who are vitamin A-deficient, the expert noted.“For children who are diagnosed with both measles and vitamin A deficiency, receiving age-appropriate doses of vitamin A may reduce the likelihood of progression to severe illness or death,” he added.The expert warned that vita...