With Texas in the throes of a measles outbreak, the presence of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at the funeral of an 8-year-old girl who died from the virus has sparked conversation and controversy. Daisy Hildebrand, who was unvaccinated, suffered complications from the disease, leading to measles pulmonary failure. According to FOX 7 Austin, Kennedy's trip to Gaines County on Sunday was a gesture of comfort to the bereaved family and an opportunity to meet with other affected community members, including the family of another deceased child, 6-year-old Kayley Fehr.
Controversy around Kennedy stems from his history of vaccine misinformation. With a reputation as an anti-vax proponent, Kennedy's attendance seems, to some, at odds with his previous statements on vaccines. Rolling Stone reports on his visit following Kennedy's earlier display on social media, where he was criticized while "mountaineering above Coachella Valley" amidst the outbreak. The same publication highlighted the second tragic loss in the Texas Mennonite community, raising the toll of related deaths to two children and one adult this year.
Despite a resurgence in measles cases facilitated by vaccine skepticism, Kennedy has endorsed the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine's effectiveness on social media. He asserts, "The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine," a statement confirmed by Texas health officials who report a 97% vaccine efficacy after two doses. As noted by FOX 7 Austin, Kennedy has taken concrete steps by redeploying CDC teams to Texas to assist with vaccination efforts, though specific locations for deployment remain unannounced.
The Texas measles surge has accumulated 499 confirmed cases since January, according to Kennedy. Meanwhile, the state's Department of State Health Services, as reported by Rolling Stone, clocks in at 481 cases currently. Notably, no child in the U.S. had succumbed to the virus since 2015 until this outbreak. The World Health Organization unambiguously recommends community-wide vaccination as the prime measure for measles prevention. However, Kennedy, ignoring the WHO's guidance, has previously posited on Fox News that vitamin A could be used to treat measles with "very, very, good results," despite the lack of scientific backing for such claims.
If exposure to the measles virus is suspected, Texas health authorities urge isolation and immediate contact with healthcare providers to minimize the risk of spread. Amidst the outbreak, schools in Texas are advised to exclude unvaccinated children to stanch the measles tide, aligning with the state's Administrative Code. The ongoing public health challenge serves as a stark reminder of the importance of immunizations and the delicate balance of community immunity.
