As measles stores continue to spread in various American states, the spotlight is on preventing the highly contagious disease.
Although vaccines are generally considered the first line of defense, some experts have suggested that food plays a role in reducing the severity of the disease.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Discussed the subject during a recent exclusive interview with Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of Medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News Senior Medical Analyst.
View full interview with Dr. Marc Siegel and RFK Jr. On Fox Nation
“We have to understand the relationship between good health and chronic diseases,” RFK told Siegel.
As measles stores continue to spread in various American states, the spotlight is on preventing the highly contagious disease. (Istock)
“If you are healthy, it is almost impossible for you to be killed by a contagious disease, in modern times – because we have food … and access to medicines. What we need is good science about all these things so that people can make rational choices.”
During the interview, RFK noted that in Texas – where more than 200 cases of measles were reported in the current outbreak – malnutrition can be a factor.
“The doctors I am talking to, the leaders of the community, report that the people who get sick are people who are (malnourished),” he said.
“There is a lot of poverty in that area (which) is a kind of food desert,” RFK added.
In 1963, prior to the introduction of the vaccine, between 400 and 500 people died of measles in the US every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“The doctors I am talking to, the leaders of the community, report that the people who get sick are people who are (malnourished),” said RDK Jr. (Istock)
“Almost all of them were malnourished children,” said RFK. “Measles is still a very, very deadly disease abroad and developed countries where there is a low malnutrition.”
“The best Americans can do is keeping himself healthy is very, very difficult for measles to kill a healthy, well-fed person.”
“We see a connection between people who are injured by measles and people who don’t have a good food.”
Nutrition is “crucial” for overall disease prevention, the HHS secretary told Siegel.
“We have to eat good food. We need whole foods. We have to exercise enough,” he said.
“We see a connection between people who are injured by measles and people who have no good food or do not have a good training regime.”
Experts from infectious diseases weigh
Dr. Jacob Glanville, CEO of Centivax, a biotechnology company in San Francisco, agreed that measles earlier have a serious impact on children in developing countries who are extremely malnourished.
“Historically, less than 1% of American children die from measles, while the Pan American Health Organization reports that as high as 10% of children in some developing countries die from measles, and it has been reported up to 25% to 50% in a study of malnourished African babies,” he said Fox News Digital.
“Historically, less than 1% of American children die from measles, while the Pan American Health Organization reports that as high as 10% of the children die from measles in some developing countries.” (Getty Images)
The lack of high -quality medical care in many areas of developing countries also contributes to the severity of the disease, Glanville noted.
“Although better nutrition is important for American children, it is unlikely that it makes a difference when it comes to measles infection or Ernst-90% of the well-fed but non-vaccinated American children who are exposed to measles will be infected, about 20% of those children will be admitted to the hospital, and 0.1-1% of those children will die.”
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Dr. Trish Perl, an expert in the field of infectious disease at Ut Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, noted that malnutrition can influence some of the immune system reactions for many infections – but in the case of measles, the answer is “complicated”.
“Malnutrition can, for example, reduce the robustness of the reaction to the MMR vaccine,” she said Fox News Digital.
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“The vaccine is still effective, but in some cases an extra dose may be needed.”
Studies have shown that children who are malnourished with vitamin A deficiency and live in countries with low and middle income, have a more serious illness with measles infection, have an increased risk of death and blindness and last longer to get better, Perl said.
The CDC recommends that adults and teenagers are up-to-date on MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccinations with one or two doses, depending on individual risk factors. (Istock)
“There is no treatment for measles that go beyond supporting care,” she said. “In low and middle-income countries- of which mortality is greater than 1%- the World Health Organization recommends vitamin A (two doses) to reduce the severity of measles and prevent complications.”
The problem is not so common in the US, where vitamin A deficiency is “extremely rare”, the doctor added.
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There have been no formal studies to give vitamin A to children with measles in the US or other countries with a high income, according to Perl.
However, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children with severe measles received in the hospital receive two doses of vitamin A as under the supervision of a care provider.
Dr. Jonathan Jennings, certified internist at the medical offices of Manhattan, also noticed that several studies have established that diet can “seriously influence the measles virus up”.
“The risk of fatal results is increased in children who are already malnourished before they are infected,” he said Fox News Digital.
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“The infection is known to worsen the food status, which influences the child’s immune system and the ability to recover.”
Jennings recommends a balanced diet with a variety of colorful fruit, vegetables, proteins and healthy fats as a means to prevent complications that once infected with the virus.
An expert advised a balanced diet with a variety of colorful fruit, vegetables, proteins and healthy fats as a way to prevent complications after infected with the virus. (Istock)
“Vitamin A-containing foods are particularly useful, such as carrots, spinach and dairy products,” he said.
“Many studies have identified vitamin A supplementation as a means to prevent eye damage, which is a complication of the measles infection.”
Nutrition does not replace for vaccine, experts say
Although the right nutrition is important to prevent many chronic health problems, Perl emphasized that vaccination is the “only documented method” to prevent measles infection and “the most important action that someone can take.”
“Vaccination must be given whether a person is malnourished or not.”
“The vaccine has been in use since 1963 and is considered extremely safe,” she said.
“Vaccination must be given whether a person is malnourished or not, because it is the only way to prevent measles.”
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RFK also recognized the importance of vaccines and noted that the HHS “ensures that anyone who wants the vaccine to get can get.”
“The measles vaccine protects the community,” he told Dr. Siegel. “We recommend that people in this country receive vaccines … (s) we also respect their personal choices.”
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Jennings also repeated the importance of vaccines.
“The most effective way to protect you and your family and prevent you from getting measles is to have everyone vaccinated against the virus,” he said.
The CDC recommends that adults and teenagers are up-to-date on MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccinations with one or two doses, depending on individual risk factors.
