Measles Outbreak: Can cod oil and vitamins really treat measles?

Experts are concerned

US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has recommended cod oil and vitamin A as a treatment for measles as cases grow in the US. With a very effective vaccine, can vitamins be used to treat the disease?

After initially labelling the measles outbreak in the US as “not unusual”, the country’s Health Secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr has expressed concern over the growing case numbers and penned an opinion piece for Fox News on the benefits of “good nutrition” and vitamin A in the treatment of the disease. 

Measles cases have been reported in nine US states, and an unvaccinated child has died in Texas after the country went 10 years without a measles-related death. 

While he hasn’t encouraged people to get vaccinated, Kennedy did note that the vaccines "not only protect individual children from measles, but also contribute to community immunity, protecting those who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons".

The Health Secretary did say that “Good nutrition remains a best defense against most chronic and infectious illnesses,” emphasising that “vitamins A, C, and D, and foods rich in vitamins B12, C, and E should be part of a balanced diet.”

How serious is measles?

Measles is highly contagious, spread through coughing and sneezing and can live in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours. 

Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Dr Tarun Weeramanthri said, “Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, sore or red eyes (conjunctivitis), runny nose, and feeling generally unwell, followed by a red maculopapular rash” which typically spreads from the face down the body. These symptoms can develop between seven to 18 days after being exposed to the virus.

The disease can lead to more serious issues, like pneumonia and encephalitis.

Measles is highly contagious, spread through coughing and sneezing and can live in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours. Image: Pexels

Can vitamins really treat measles?

The 71-year-old has mainly focused on highlighting the effects of vitamin A as a treatment for the virus when addressing the outbreak, leaving health experts concerned. 

President of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr Sue Kressly, told the Washington Post, “relying on vitamin A instead of the vaccine is not only dangerous and ineffective, but it puts children at serious risk”.

In his opinion piece, Kennedy said studies have shown that vitamin A can “dramatically reduce measles mortality.”

Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said “It’s actually valid information,” but it is “out of context.”

President of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr Sue Kressly, told the Washington Post, “relying on vitamin A instead of the vaccine is not only dangerous and ineffective, but it puts children at serious risk”. Image: iStock

Professor of Infectious Diseases at Monash Health, Allen Cheng tells Body+Soul “Vitamin A doesn’t prevent measles”.

“It can help reduce the risk of complications in children with vitamin A deficiency (which would be uncommon in a developed country like Australia).” 

Supplementation can help support patients who have a vitamin A deficiency by strengthening the immune system, but co-director of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Dr. Peter Hotez, said focusing on vitamins as a treatment for the disease “becomes a distraction about what we really need to focus on, which is vaccinating our kids,”

Countries like the US and Australia were able to declare themselves measles-free thanks to widespread vaccination programs stopping local transmission. While cases still pop up every year, the majority are a result of people being infected while overseas. 

Cheng says “the MMR vaccine (measles-mumps-rubella) is safe and very effective”. It’s also free and available to most people in Australia. 

Professor of Infectious Diseases at Monash Health, Allen Cheng tells Body+Soul “Vitamin A doesn’t prevent measles”. Image: Unsplash

How likely is a large measles outbreak in Australia?

Vaccine rates in both the US and Australia have declined in recent years, putting populations at risk of outbreaks, as more than 90 per cent need to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity.

Cheng says in Australia, “our vaccine rates aren’t bad, although they have slipped a little over the last few years.”

He notes that overall statistics can hide “some areas where vaccination rates are lower. So in general the risk of a large outbreak is low, but measles could still be an issue if it gets into a population where vaccines rates are lower.”

Cheng says in Australia, “our vaccine rates aren’t bad, although they have slipped a little over the last few years.” Image: Getty

The infectious disease expert says that while “the outbreak of measles in the US is of some concern, it should be noted that there are many larger outbreaks occurring elsewhere in the world, including areas where Australians often travel to.” 

“For example, Vietnam has reported more than 38,000 cases of measles last year.”

He says it’s important that people travelling overseas get advice on whether they should get a dose of measles vaccine, particularly if travelling with young infants, or people who haven’t received their second dose. 

Travellers who are sick within a few weeks of returning to Australia should seek medical attention and let their doctors know they have been overseas. 

Originally published as Measles Outbreak: Can cod oil and vitamins really treat measles?