14 March 2025

Rise in Measles Cases Sparks Interest in Vitamin A Supplements: What Experts Say

Measles cases have been on the rise in the United States, with over 200 reported across at least a dozen states. This outbreak has led to increased interest in vitamin A supplements as a potential treatment or preventive measure, following recent remarks by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

As of March 7, the outbreak has affected more than 220 individuals, with one confirmed fatality and another under investigation. The most impacted areas include western Texas and New Mexico, while cases have also been recorded in California, New York, and Maryland. With spring break approaching, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised travelers to remain cautious.

Historically, measles has been a well-controlled disease in the U.S., with occasional outbreaks, such as the Minnesota outbreak in 2017 and the Indiana outbreak in 2005, both primarily driven by undervaccination.

Secretary Kennedy has suggested that vitamin A—available in supplements like cod liver oil—along with the steroid budesonide and the antibiotic clarithromycin, has shown promise in treating measles. While the CDC acknowledges vitamin A as a potential treatment, it continues to emphasize vaccination as the most effective defense against measles.

To provide clarity on the role of vitamin A and other preventive measures, Medical News Today consulted two medical experts: Dr. Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, and Dr. Danelle Fisher, a board-certified pediatrician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA.