this post was submitted on 28 Mar 2025
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Medical disinformation connected to the West Texas measles outbreak has created a new problem. Children are being treated for toxic levels of vitamin A.

Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock confirms it is treating children with severe cases of measles who are also suffering from vitamin A toxicity. According to the hospital, they have admitted fewer than 10 pediatric patients who were all initially hospitalized due to measles complications but have elevated levels of vitamin A that is resulting in abnormal liver function.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. directed the CDC to update its measles guidance to promote the use of vitamin A.

Kennedy, who has a history of spreading misinformation about vaccines, recommended in an article published March 2 on FOX News to take vitamin A under the supervision of a physician for those with mild, moderate and severe infections.

During a March 4 interview on Fox News, Kennedy suggested that therapies such as the use of cod liver oil — which contains vitamins A and D — were "working" in treating measles patients.

There are reports from the West Texas area that cod liver oil is in high demand and a big seller at area pharmacies.

But the hospital is informing the public to reduce consumption of vitamin A and has warned that excessive amounts of it may result in significant adverse effects.

There is no evidence that taking vitamin A will prevent measles.

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[–] courageousstep@lemm.ee 47 points 10 months ago (4 children)

When will people learn that he is not a doctor???

[–] HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works 34 points 10 months ago

When will he learn he's not a doctor?

[–] Stamau123@lemmy.world 20 points 10 months ago

probably when he's not the fucking health secretary

[–] disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world 9 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Seriously. I have a pair of old boots in better shape than that man.

[–] Stamau123@lemmy.world 7 points 10 months ago

probably looks like ol leatherhead too

[–] jimmy90@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago

they won't and that will be the end of that genetic line

[–] Professorozone@lemmy.world 39 points 10 months ago

I love the way Kennedy suggests taking some ridiculous old wive's tale of a cure for measles "with doctors supervision." So you should listen to doctors when they advise you how to take a home remedy but absolutely don't listen to them when they suggest a medical remedy.

[–] MyOpinion@lemm.ee 22 points 10 months ago (1 children)

They are going to start taking Ivermectin soon to cure this.

[–] Sludgehammer@lemmy.world 6 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I find the Ivermectin worship so weird. You've got MAGA's "I don't trust big pharma so I won't take their fancy pants medicines" but for this one drug, that's also manufactured by pharmaceutical companies suddenly they pivot to "Ivermectin is a panacea because Jesus personally blesses every molecule in the horse deworming paste I put on my toast."

I mean, I realize it's foolish to expect consistency from conservatives. But it's such a fundamental contradiction you'd think even they would notice.

[–] FarFarAway@lemmy.world 7 points 10 months ago (3 children)

There was an early covid study from Japan? That said they tried ivermectin and it improved outcomes. A lot of different things were being tried to see if anything worked, not just ivermectin. Vitamin C and D were on the list of cures, too, I believe. After others tried to replicate it, they realized it didnt really improve anything, but it was too late. Word on the street was already out. The ivermectin supporters took this as a sign they were repressing a easy to obtain, over the counter drug in favor of a microchip vaccine. Really, it fed into all the conspiracy theories and got warped into becoming a cure all.

[–] paintedsunflowers@feddit.nl 3 points 10 months ago

That's the best summary of this wild weeks and months I've ever seen!

[–] Ledericas@lemm.ee 2 points 10 months ago

Ivermectin wasn't really over the counter, it was rx for humans. What magats were doing was buying animal ivermectin, horse and cow paste which has significantly higher doses of the drug, which is toxic to people

[–] capital_sniff@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago

One faith healer gets a blind man to stand on their own and take a step and they're set for life with followers.

[–] Ledericas@lemm.ee 15 points 10 months ago

Fun fact you don't eat livers of bears, especially polar bear because they contain lethal amounts vitamin A for humans

[–] bradorsomething@ttrpg.network 14 points 10 months ago

If you put an onion cut in half in their casket they won’t get sicker.

[–] collapse_already@lemmy.ml 13 points 10 months ago

Are they drinking bleach snd taking horse dewormer yet? Dumb fucks.

[–] Gates9@sh.itjust.works 11 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I take vitamins and other supplements, I think I’m pretty decently informed. At best it’s a preventative measure along with exercise, diet, and good sleep habits. You have to be a real moron to think that taking vitamins will “cure” a viral infection.

[–] Bytemeister@lemmy.world 14 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (3 children)

The people listening to him are the same people who took a fucking anti-parasitic drug to combat a viral infection. Honestly, Vitamin A is probably one of the less harmful things these fucks could OD their kids on.

[–] weariedfae@sh.itjust.works 4 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Isn't vitamin A the one that killed that polar explorer?

[–] Kanzar@sh.itjust.works 3 points 10 months ago

Yes, dog liver contains way too much vitamin A.

[–] Bytemeister@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago

Maybe. I thought it was K from a polar bear liver. Either way, fat soluble vitamins are the scary ones. As long as you don't take an immediately lethal or damaging dose of vitamin A, you have progressively worse symptoms that will show up before any permanent damage.

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

Vitamin A in large doses is not harmless. Those patients overdosed on it.

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[–] ShellMonkey@lemmy.socdojo.com 10 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Old dumbass was probably given that back before there was a vaccine and thinks he came out just fine (give or take a few worms in the head) so why shouldn't it be good for everyone.

[–] alanjaow@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago

Measles exacerbates the symptoms of vitamin A deficiency, so in those specific cases, supplements can help. That basically never happens if you have a proper diet (even a Texas one).

[–] Freshparsnip@lemm.ee 8 points 10 months ago

Good thing they didn't put an anti-vax nutjob in charge of health

[–] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 8 points 10 months ago

The medical misinformation led to the measles outbreak. It’s not in parallel, it’s in series.

[–] kingshrubb@lemmy.ml 8 points 10 months ago

The real great replacement theory: right-wingers not listening to the experts in their fields and doing dumb things that end up potentially harming themselves and/or their family members.

[–] umbrella@lemmy.ml 7 points 10 months ago

why do fascists always encourage people to get sick? like wtf is the benefit for them here.

[–] Bring_Back_Guillotines@lemmy.ca 7 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Maybe instead of overdosing your child, get them vaccinated at a clinic with people who KNOW what they're doing. Good Lord.

No matter how long I live, I will never understand people who carry a child for 9 months, then decide to let that child take their chances on preventable illnesses.

I've been to a child's funeral, it is the MOST depressing and hopeless place to be. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

[–] Poem_for_your_sprog@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago

Lol.

These people believe dinosaur bones were put there by Satan to test their beliefs.

[–] raynethackery@lemmy.world 6 points 10 months ago

Practicing medicine without a license.

[–] wanderwisley@lemm.ee 6 points 10 months ago (1 children)
[–] Stamau123@lemmy.world 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Won't someone think of the bleach?

[–] wanderwisley@lemm.ee 4 points 10 months ago

Maybe we can you know put a light inside the body and kill the virus that way. 🫲🍊🫱

[–] PortoPeople@lemm.ee 6 points 10 months ago (1 children)

LOL. Good job, dummies. (those poor kids though)

[–] Fluke@lemm.ee 2 points 10 months ago

Those poor kids would otherwise grow up into the next generation of coal rolling, republican voting binfires. My sympathy is somewhat limited.

[–] Rooki@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

They write about US, and have some other countries ( definitly not US ) hospital photo as their cover?

[–] otter@lemmy.zip 2 points 10 months ago (2 children)

If you read the caption on the photo it says that it is of a sign in German at a Texas children's hospital.

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[–] zergtoshi@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

If one takes beta-carotene instead of vitamin a, an existing deficiency can be resolved without introducing any risk of reaching toxic levels.

[–] thesohoriots@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

Guess they don’t remember accutane. That’s a fun list of side effects right there.