While the cases of measles increase in Texas, affecting 159 people, hospitalizing 22 and claiming the life of a school age, the United States Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed a “deep concern” about the epidemic while promoting an unconventional treatment protocol.
“As secretary of the American Department of Health and Social Services, I am deeply concerned about the recent Epidemia of measles,” said Kennedy Jr. statement.
In a new Fox interviewKennedy Jr. praised the treatment of measles using vitamin A, steroid budonid, antibiotic clarithromycin and cod liver oil, saying that they give “good results”. However, health experts warn that it should not replace vaccination and prudence to rely entirely on it.
Measles is a very contagious virus that spreads in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It starts with fever, cough and red and aqueous eyes before a revealing rash appears. Although most cases are resolved by themselves, complications such as pneumonia, blindness and brain inflammation can be serious, especially for non-vaccinated individuals.
Kennedy Jr. acknowledged that vaccines not only protect individual children from measles, but also contribute to community immunity, protecting those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. However, in an opinion article on Fox nationKennedy Jr. said the decision to vaccinate children will be a personal choice. Meanwhile, he highlighted the importance of good nutrition and consumption of vitamins such as A, B12, C, D and E as the “best defense” of chronic and infectious diseases.
He also underlined a 2010 study showing that two doses of vitamin A treatment reduced measles mortality by 62%. The same study revealed that the measles vaccine is very effective, a dose preventing 85 to 95% of cases and two doses up to 98%.
Since vaccines remain the only means of preventing epidemics, some doctors fear that the promotion of unconventional therapies during an increase can undermine vaccination efforts and online food.
American disease control and prevention centers (CDC) have reaffirmed last week This vaccination remains the strongest defense against measles, because no specific antiviral treatment exists. However, the agency has recognized that support care, including vitamin A administration under the direction of a doctor, can help manage the infection.
“Building on vitamin A instead of the vaccine is not only dangerous and ineffective, but that puts children at serious risks,” said Dr. Sue Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said The Washington Post.
Experts like Dr. Amesh Adalja, a principal researcher at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security distraction On what we really have to focus, which is the vaccine of our children. “”
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