The United States’ Secretary of Health, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., embarked on a journey to West Texas this last weekend. This visit was in response to the tragic death of a non-vaccinated youngster caused by an illness associated with measles. This journey precedes an imminent expedition entitled ‘Make America Healthy Again,’ targeted at the American southwestern region. Kennedy’s trip to Gaines County was primarily focused on consoling bereaved families that have suffered the loss of two innocent lives.
Describing his collaboration with the local health authorities, Kennedy emphasized his efforts to curb this escalating measles outbreak. The outbreak traces back its roots to Seminole, which has officially been identified as its origin. Ever since the onset of this outbreak in the final weeks of January, it has been growing — leading to nearly 500 confirmed cases solely within Texas. Cases related to this outbreak are suspected to have penetrated into neighboring areas including New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, and even Mexico.
The loss of another young life occurred this past Thursday, believed to be a catastrophic effect of ‘measles pulmonary failure,’ says the child’s physician. According to the Texas State Department of State Health Services, the child was not known to have any underlying health issues prior to this tragic event. As heartbreaking as it is, this particular instance marks the third death attributed to this ongoing outbreak.
Interestingly, the victims of this outbreak haven’t been confined to Texas only; the spectrum of casualties spreads beyond state boundaries. The other two deaths, also related to this outbreak, include a school-aged child from Texas and an adult from New Mexico — shockingly, none of them were vaccinated.
Despite his reputation as a critic of vaccines, Kennedy’s stance on the matter seems to be evolving as the outbreak intensifies. His recent statement highlights the importance of vaccination as ‘the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles.’ This might be a turning point in the approach to manage the current public health crisis.
The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine has a history of safe use spanning over six decades and is clinically proven to be 97% effective against measles post receiving the two-dose course. Looking at Texas, the number of measles cases surged by 81 between the last week of March and the first week of April, and there were 16 more hospital admissions in the same period.
On a national level, the total number of measles cases in the United States have surpassed double the count for the entire previous year. The vast majority of unvaccinated individuals are children aged 17 or lower. Misinterpretations related to prevention and treatment methods for measles are currently proving to be obstacles for a robust public health counteraction.
Among the false information gaining popularity, one related to the use of vitamin A supplements stands out. Despite repeated warnings from credible physicians, claims by Kennedy and proponents of holistic medicine regarding vitamin A supplements are taking hold. The emphasis is on the fact that it should be administered under professional medical supervision and that an excess dose could potentially yield harmful effects.
Looking at the demographics of the outbreak, it is evident that the unvaccinated population and children below the age of 17 account for most measles cases. In a concerning trend, the rate of getting children vaccinated nationwide is on the decline. This, coupled with recurring outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, is causing unease among public health authorities.
There’s a tangible fear that the United States may lose its status as a nation that has successfully eliminated measles. This is largely due to the disease’s resilience and its highly contagious nature. Measles, a potent respiratory virus, can live in the air for as long as two hours.
The infectious nature of measles is exemplified by the fact that up to 90 percent of people susceptible to the virus would contract it if exposed to an infected individual. The measles vaccination is ideally recommended to be administered in a two-dose regimen — the first one between the ages of 12 to 15 months, and the second one between the ages of 4 to 6 years.