Meanwhile, Edwards treated the siblings of the first child who died of measles. The family sought care from Edwards for their other four children, who were also unvaccinated and fell ill from measles after their 6-year-old sibling died. Edward’s involvement was revealed in an interview with the deceased child’s parents, which was led by the rabid anti-vaccine organization Kennedy founded and until recently headed, Children’s Health Defense.
In the interview, the CHD representatives, like Malone, led the parents to believe that the child’s death was not from measles and that vaccines are harmful. The mother of the child concluded in the interview to deter other parents from immunizing their children against measles, despite the death of her daughter: “Don’t do the shots. There [are] doctors that can help with measles. [Measles is] not as bad as they’re making it out to be,” she said, through a translator of low German.
The message from Kennedy and these alternative practitioners has clearly impacted the communities in West Texas. Some unvaccinated children hospitalized with measles have signs of vitamin A toxicity, doctors told The Washington Post.
Three deaths amid an outbreak with under 600 reported measles cases are also raising questions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1 to 3 of every 1,000 children who become infected with measles will die from respiratory and neurologic complications. Three reported deaths so far in the outbreak could be a statistical blip. But health experts are questioning whether the outbreak is much larger than known—if parents are not bringing their sick children to health providers—and/or if parents are delaying care, relying on unproven treatments, which could up the risk of life-threatening cases. The CDC also estimates that about 20 percent of US children with measles are hospitalized. With 58 hospitalizations reported so far, the percentage is about half of what’s expected.