DALLAS, Texas – A team from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has arrived in Texas to assist in addressing a measles outbreak. US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has pledged to engage with frontline doctors to explore effective treatments and therapies for the outbreak, which has now reported 159 cases.

Kennedy advocates for the use of vitamin A and has endorsed an unconventional treatment approach for measles, which includes a steroid, an antibiotic, and cod liver oil. He highlighted two West Texas doctors who have reportedly seen significant progress with their treatment regimen.

However, one of the doctors Kennedy praised has a history of disciplinary action by the Texas Medical Board in 2003 for inappropriate prescribing practices. Despite this, Kennedy plans to conduct a clinical trial on the treatment regimen involving the steroid budesonide, antibiotic clarithromycin, and cod liver oil.

While Kennedy acknowledges the importance of measles vaccination, he believes it should be a personal choice. He emphasizes the need for undervaccinated communities to consider vaccines while also exploring therapeutic interventions for those who choose not to vaccinate.

Dr. Richard Bartlett, one of the doctors praised by Kennedy, has promoted an experimental treatment for Covid-19 involving a combination of budesonide, clarithromycin, and aspirin, which has been scrutinized by independent fact-checking groups for lacking scientific evidence.

Health officials stress the importance of measles vaccination, which is 97% effective in preventing the disease. Kennedy’s approach to focusing on treatments rather than the vaccine has raised concerns among public health experts.

There is no specific treatment for measles, with supportive care such as oxygen and fluids provided in severe cases. Experts emphasize the critical role of vaccines in preventing measles and urge the public to prioritize vaccination to prevent outbreaks and protect public health.