With measles cases surging to over 930 across 30 jurisdictions, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is pursuing new treatment options for the unvaccinated while experts worry this approach could undermine vaccination efforts.
At a Glance
- The U.S. is experiencing its largest measles outbreak in 25 years with 935 cases reported across 30 jurisdictions as of May 1, 2025
- 96% of confirmed measles patients were either unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status
- HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is directing federal agencies to explore treatment combinations including existing drugs, vitamins, and other modalities
- Kennedy supports the measles vaccine but acknowledges some decline it for religious or other reasons
- Health experts express concern that focusing on treatments could undermine vaccination efforts
Federal Response to Rising Measles Cases
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has launched a comprehensive initiative to develop treatments for measles amid the worst outbreak in 25 years. According to an HHS spokesperson, Kennedy “will be enlisting the entire agency to activate a scientific process to treat a host of diseases, including measles, with single or multiple existing drugs in combination with vitamins and other modalities.”
This approach comes as measles cases have surged to 935 across 30 jurisdictions by May 1, 2025, with the outbreak beginning in Texas before spreading to other regions.
The initiative will partner HHS with universities to develop protocols for repurposing existing medications, conduct rigorous testing, and navigate the approval process for new therapeutic applications. Currently, the CDC acknowledges that no specific therapies are federally approved for measles, with most care being supportive in nature.
This gap in treatment options has become particularly relevant as data shows only 4% of confirmed measles patients were vaccinated, while the remaining 96% were either unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status.
Proposed Treatment Approaches
Among the treatments being explored is vitamin A, which is already used under medical supervision for some measles patients. The World Health Organization recommends vitamin A for children with measles, though health officials emphasize it does not prevent infection or substitute for vaccination. Kennedy has also mentioned using budesonide and clarithromycin, though the American Academy of Pediatrics states there is no scientific evidence supporting these specific treatments for measles.
Kennedy told reporters in Texas this week that: “some Mennonites in south Texas have religious objections to vaccination and that health officials were “developing now a worksheet for doctors to address the epidemic, to address people who have it, not just with vaccination, but actually with budesonide, with clarithromycin, with vitamin A, and many, many other treatments that have been shown very effective.””
The creation of treatment worksheets for doctors represents a tangible step toward providing healthcare professionals with resources to address measles infections, particularly among unvaccinated populations. These worksheets would outline various treatment protocols and options based on patient characteristics and severity of disease, potentially offering standardized approaches where no formal guidelines currently exist.
Balancing Treatment and Prevention
While pursuing treatments, Kennedy has stated his support for the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. “Kennedy has said that people should receive the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine. “If you take that vaccine, you’re unlikely to get measles,”” he acknowledged. The CDC continues to emphasize that vaccination remains the most effective prevention method, with the measles vaccine proven to be 97% effective in preventing infection.
This dual approach of promoting vaccination while developing treatments has generated debate among public health experts. Critics argue that emphasizing unproven treatments could undermine vaccination campaigns by suggesting alternatives exist, potentially leading to further declines in vaccination rates. Meanwhile, supporters contend that having effective treatments is necessary for those who cannot or will not be vaccinated, especially as outbreaks continue to affect communities with religious objections to vaccination.
Ongoing Challenges and Outlook
The measles outbreak has already claimed two lives and primarily affected the Southwest region of the United States. Epidemiologists have pointed out that potential treatments, particularly vitamins and existing medications, have been extensively studied previously, raising questions about what new approaches might yield meaningful results. Nevertheless, the HHS initiative signals a shift toward exploring all possible tools to address infectious disease outbreaks, particularly for vulnerable or unvaccinated populations.
As the federal response continues to evolve, health officials must balance the immediate need to treat existing cases with the long-term goal of prevention through vaccination. The effectiveness of this two-pronged approach will likely determine how quickly the current outbreak can be contained and what strategies will be implemented for future infectious disease challenges.
