Kennedy Orders Investigation into New Measles Treatments as Outbreak Surges

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has directed federal agencies to explore alternative measles treatments, including vitamins and other modalities, instead of prioritizing vaccination amid the largest U.S. measles outbreak in 25 years. This move has drawn significant criticism from public health experts, who warn that it could undermine confidence in the highly effective measles vaccine, which is the only proven method to prevent the disease and its serious complications. Kennedy has also revived misleading claims about vaccines, further fueling concerns about misinformation. The outbreak has primarily affected the Southwest, with over 900 cases and multiple deaths reported, and experts fear shifting focus from vaccination could worsen the crisis. Public health officials continue to stress the critical importance of vaccination, especially as misinformation about vaccine safety spreads alongside the virus. Critics caution that lowering vaccination rates could have grave long-term consequences, including a dramatic rise in cases and preventable deaths.