U.S. measles battle hindered by confusion over health secretary response

U.S. pediatricians struggle with rising measles cases due to lack of government advocacy, misinformation, and falling vaccination rates.

U.S. pediatricians and infectious disease experts say the fight against rising measles cases nationwide is being hampered by a lack of forceful advocacy for vaccination from government health officials and statements on unproven treatments that are confusing parents.

Since January, 505 people have been infected in Texas and more than 90 total in neighboring New Mexico, Oklahoma and Kansas. Two children0 have died in Texas, including an 8-year-old girl last week, and an adult death in New Mexico is under investigation. The United States has more than 600 known cases and outbreaks in six states, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Sue Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said leaders need to speak with a consistent science- and fact-based message about measles vaccination, calling it the only way to handle an outbreak like this. "That is the number one message we're trying to put in front of everyone."

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has a long history of advocating against vaccines, has backed vaccination as the best way to prevent measles from spreading since becoming the head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. But unlike previous health secretaries faced with containing outbreaks, his comments are not unequivocal. He has also made misleading claims about nutrition, vitamin A and other treatments, while exaggerating vaccine risks, even as U.S. vaccination rates are falling.

"Our work is becoming harder by the minute," said Rana Alissa, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Florida chapter, a state where kindergarten vaccination rates last school year were 81%, far below the 95% needed to establish community protection.

An HHS spokesman in a statement disputed that there was a lack of strong federal messaging, saying Kennedy has repeatedly reinforced the important role of vaccines. The spokesman said HHS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been monitoring the situation and are collaborating with state and local health authorities, including by providing resources.

"Secretary Kennedy remains committed to ensuring Americans have accurate information on all available treatment options," the statement said.