With measles cases continuing to increase, particularly in Texas and Ontario, Canada, recommendations of various cures have been spreading through the media and social media. As of April 3, 607 confirmed measles cases were reported by 22 jurisdictions in the U.S, with nearly 500 of these in Texas, and 655 confirmed and probable cases have been reported in Ontario.
One of the recommended treatments is Vitamin A. While the WHO has stated that “children or adults with measles should receive two doses of vitamin A supplements, given 24 hours apart,” it is essential that this be done under doctor supervision. While it can restore low vitamin A levels that occur even in well-nourished children, help prevent eye damage and blindness, and may reduce the number of measles deaths, using the supplement incorrectly has led to the hospitalization of children in Texas who received toxic levels of Vitamin A. Though it is rare, consuming high levels of Vitamin A have been associated with gastrointestinal symptoms, neurological effects, eye disorders including blindness, and possible liver damage.
It also needs to be noted that a meta-analysis demonstrated no overall reduction in mortality among the general population, but did see some benefit in reducing mortality in children under 2 years of age and in pneumonia-specific illnesses. Additionally, it was concluded that better quality randomized trials are needed to fully evaluate the efficacy of Vitamin A for treating measles in children.
Having visited West Texas, where two children died of the disease, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. advocated for the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. As he stated on X, “The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine.” The vaccine is safe, effective, widely available, and inexpensive, and all children, and others who have not been vaccinated, should be vaccinated against measles.
COVID Risk Matrix:
Influenza:
Infectious Disease News:
- The US seasonal influenza activity is declining but rates are still above the baseline value of 3% of outpatient visits to the ED for respiratory illnesses.
- A new coronavirus discovered in bats in China that has some similarities to SARS CoV-2 was found to be infectious to human cells in a lab study. While researchers are monitoring this carefully, the threat is low since this new virus has less binding affinity to human cells than the causative agent of the COVID pandemic.
- Two children have died of whooping cough in Louisiana in the past 6 months, the first deaths in the state since 2018. To date in 2025, 110 cases have been reported.
- According to PAHO there have been 131 confirmed cases of yellow fever in humans reported in four countries of the region. 53 cases have been fatal. Cases are reported in Brazil, Colombia and Peru.
- The Ministry of Health reported the detection of the first human case of avian influenza A (H5N1) in Mexico in a 3-year-old.
Measles:
- Cases of measles in Ontario have sharply increased. Year to date through April 2, 2025, 655 confirmed and probable cases have been reported. 75% of the cases are in individuals under 18 years of age and among these, 94% were unvaccinated.
- As of April 3, 2025, in the US, 607 confirmed measles cases were reported by 22 jurisdictions; nearly 500 of these are in Texas. Cases in some areas are linked to the outbreaks in the West Texas region. Two unvaccinated children have died from the illness and a third death remains under investigation.
- A hospital in Texas is treating children suffering with toxic levels of Vitamin A, after some advised that taking the supplement could be beneficial in the fight against measles.
