Health
Measles more likely to be severe among malnourished, RFK says
As measles cases continue to spread in several U.S. states, the spotlight is on prevention of the highly contagious disease.
While vaccines are widely regarded as the first line of defense, some experts have suggested that nutrition plays a role in reducing the severity of the disease.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. discussed the topic during a recent exclusive interview with Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News’ senior medical analyst.
WATCH FULL INTERVIEW WITH DR. MARC SIEGEL AND RFK JR. ON FOX NATION
“We need to understand the relationship between good health and chronic disease,” RFK Jr. told Siegel.
“If you are healthy, it’s almost impossible for you to be killed by an infectious disease, in modern times — because we have nutrition … and access to medicines. What we need is good science on all of these things so that people can make rational choices.”
As measles cases continue to spread in several U.S. states, the spotlight is on prevention of the highly contagious disease. (iStock)
During the interview, RFK noted that in Texas — where more than 200 cases of measles have been reported in the current outbreak — malnourishment may be a factor.
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“The doctors that I’m talking to on the ground, the leaders of the community, are reporting that the people who are getting sick are people who are [malnourished],” he said.
“There’s a lot of poverty in that area, [which] is kind of a food desert,” RFK added.
In 1963, prior to the vaccine’s introduction, between 400 and 500 people died from measles each year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“The doctors that I’m talking to on the ground, the leaders of the community, are reporting that the people who are getting sick are people who are [malnourished],” RFK Jr. said. (iStock)
“Almost all of them were malnourished children,” RFK said. “Measles still is a very, very lethal disease in foreign countries and developed countries where there is low malnutrition.”
He added, “The best thing Americans can do is to keep themselves healthy. It is very, very difficult for measles to kill a healthy, well-nourished person.”
“We see a correlation between people who get hurt by measles and people who don’t have good nutrition.”
Nutrition is “critical” for overall disease prevention, the HHS secretary told Siegel.
“We need to eat good foods. We need whole foods. We need to get plenty of exercise,” he said.
“We see a correlation between people who get hurt by measles and people who don’t have good nutrition or don’t have a good exercise regimen.”
Infectious disease experts weigh in
Dr. Jacob Glanville, CEO of Centivax, a San Francisco biotechnology company, agreed that measles is more likely to severely affect 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 [many] as 10% of children die from measles in some developing countries, and it has been reported as high as 25% to 50% in a study of malnourished African infants,” he told 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 children die from measles in some developing countries.” (Getty Images)
The lack of quality medical care in many areas of the developing world also contributes to disease severity, Glanville noted.
“While better nutrition is important for American children, it’s unlikely to make a difference when it comes to measles infection or severity — 90% of well-fed but unvaccinated American children exposed to measles will become infected, around 20% of those children will be hospitalized, and 0.1-1% of those children will die.”
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Dr. Trish Perl, an infectious disease expert at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, noted that malnutrition can impair some of the immune system responses to many infections — but in the case of measles, the answer is “complicated.”
“For example, malnutrition may decrease the robustness of the response to the MMR vaccine,” she told Fox News Digital.
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“The vaccine is still effective, but in some cases, an additional dose may be required.”
Studies have shown that children who are malnourished with vitamin A deficiency and living in low- and middle-income countries have more severe illness with measles infection, face an increased risk of death and blindness, and take longer to get better, Perl said.
The CDC recommends that adults and teens are up-to-date on MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccinations with either one or two doses, depending on individual risk factors. (iStock)
“There is no treatment for measles beyond supportive care,” she said. “However, in low- and middle-income countries — whose mortality is greater than 1% — the World Health Organization recommends vitamin A (two doses) to reduce the severity of measles and prevent complications.”
The issue isn’t as prevalent in the U.S., where vitamin A deficiency is “extremely rare,” the doctor added.
There haven’t been formal studies into whether giving vitamin A to children with measles in the U.S. or other high-income countries prevents complications, according to Perl.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, however, recommends that hospitalized children with severe measles receive two doses of vitamin A as supervised by a healthcare provider.
Dr. Jonathan Jennings, a board-certified internist with the Medical Offices of Manhattan, also noted that multiple studies have found nutrition can “heavily impact” the clinical course of children who contract the measles virus.
“The risk of fatal outcomes is increased in children who are already malnourished prior to being infected,” he told Fox News Digital.
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“The infection has been known to worsen the nutritional status, which impacts the child’s immune system and ability to recover.”
Jennings recommends a balanced diet with a variety of colorful fruits, vegetables, protein and healthy fats as a means of preventing complications once infected with the virus.
An expert recommended a balanced diet with a variety of colorful fruits, vegetables, protein and healthy fats as a means of preventing complications once infected with the virus. (iStock)
“Vitamin A-containing foods are particularly helpful, 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 not substitute for vaccine, experts say
While proper nutrition is important for preventing many chronic health conditions, Perl emphasized that vaccination is the “only documented method” of preventing measles infection and “is the most important action anyone can take.”
“Vaccination should be given whether an individual is malnourished or not.”
“The vaccine has been in use since 1963 and is considered extremely safe,” she said.
“Vaccination should be given whether an individual is malnourished or not, as it is the only way to prevent measles.”
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RFK also recognized the importance of vaccines, noting that the HHS is “making sure that anybody who wants the vaccine can get that vaccine.”
“The measles vaccine protects the community,” he told Dr. Siegel. “We are recommending that people in this country get vaccines … [and] we are also respectful of their personal choices.”
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Jennings also reiterated the importance of vaccines.
“The most effective way to protect and prevent you and your family from getting measles is to get everyone vaccinated against the virus,” he said.
The CDC recommends that adults and teens are up-to-date on MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccinations with either one or two doses, depending on individual risk factors.
New flu strain emerging as a severe health threat
Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel joins ‘America’s Newsroom’ to warn of a new strain of the flu that is spiking hospitalizations across the country and newfound risks of medical marijuana’s link to psychosis.
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A new form of the flu, which is highly contagious and aggressive, is sweeping the nation this season.
A mutation of influenza A H3N2, called subclade K, has been detected as the culprit in rising global cases, including in the U.S.
The World Health Organization stated on its website that the K variant marks “a notable evolution in influenza A (H3N2) viruses,” which some say calls into question the effectiveness of this season’s influenza vaccine against the strain.
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The K variant causes more intense flu symptoms, including fever, chills, headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat and runny nose, according to experts.
Multiple states in the northeast are reporting high rates of respiratory illness this month. (iStock)
Among 216 influenza A(H3N2) viruses collected since Sept. 28, 89.8% belonged to subclade K, a CDC report states.
The agency continues to release a weekly influenza surveillance report, tracking which states are seeing the most activity for outpatient respiratory illness.
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Below are the states and regions within the highest range of reported medical visits, not necessarily confirmed influenza cases, as of the week ending Dec. 13.
The CDC’s weekly influenza surveillance report, an outpatient respiratory illness activity map, based on data reported to ILINet for the week ending Dec. 13, 2025. (CDC FluView)
Very High (Level 1)
Very High (Level 2)
Very High (Level 3)
- New Jersey
- Rhode Island
- Louisiana
- Colorado
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High (Level 1)
- Massachusetts
- Connecticut
- Michigan
- Idaho
- South Carolina
High (Level 2)
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High (Level 3)
- Washington, D.C.
- Maryland
- North Carolina
- Georgia
The CDC has estimated that there have been at least 4.6 million illnesses, 49,000 hospitalizations and 1,900 flu deaths this season so far. The flu vaccine is recommended as the best line of defense against the virus.
The flu vaccine is recommended as the best line of defense against the virus. (iStock)
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Neil Maniar, professor of public health practice at Boston’s Northeastern University, shared details on the early severity of this emerging flu strain.
“It’s becoming evident that this is a pretty severe variant of the flu,” he said. “Certainly, in other parts of the world where this variant has been prevalent, it’s caused some severe illness, and we’re seeing an aggressive flu season already.”
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Subclade K is the “perfect storm” for an aggressive flu season, Maniar suggested, as vaccination rates overall are down, and it’s uncertain whether this year’s flu vaccine directly addresses this specific mutation.
“The vaccine is very important to get, but because it’s not perfectly aligned with this variant, I think that’s also contributing to some degree to the severity of cases we’re seeing,” he said. “We’re going in [to this flu season] with lower vaccination rates and a variant that in itself seems to be more aggressive.”
Subclade K has “caused some severe illness, and we’re seeing an aggressive flu season already,” a doctor said. (iStock)
Maniar stressed that it’s not too late to get the flu vaccine, as peak flu season has not yet arrived.
“The vaccine still provides protection against serious illness resulting from the subclade K variant that seems to be going around,” he said. “There are likely to be lots of indoor gatherings and other events that create risk of exposure, so protection is important.”
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Even healthy individuals can become seriously ill from the flu, Maniar noted, “so a vaccine is beneficial for almost everyone.”
“Individuals typically start to develop some degree of protection within a few days and gain the full benefit within about two weeks, so now is the time for anyone who hasn’t gotten the vaccine yet.”
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Former U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska announced this week that he has been diagnosed with metastatic stage 4 pancreatic cancer, calling the disease “a death sentence” in a message posted on X.
Sasse, 53, said the cancer has spread and acknowledged that he has “less time than I’d prefer,” although he also mentioned recent scientific advances and his intention to pursue treatment.
“I’m not going down without a fight,” Sasse said when revealing his diagnosis. “One sub-part of God’s grace is found in the jaw-dropping advances science has made the past few years in immunotherapy and more.”
HIDDEN FACTOR IN CANCER TREATMENT TIMING MAY AFFECT SURVIVAL, RESEARCHERS SAY
Pancreatic cancer is known to be one of the deadliest forms of cancer, with ongoing research efforts aiming to improve outcomes.
Below are six key things to know about the disease.
No. 1: Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed late and is highly deadly
Pancreatic cancer is notoriously aggressive and difficult to treat, according to the American Cancer Society. Most patients are not diagnosed until the disease has already spread to other organs, largely because there aren’t reliable screening tests and early symptoms can be vague or absent.
Ben Sasse, a former U.S. senator from Nebraska, announced that he has been diagnosed with metastatic stage 4 pancreatic cancer. (Getty Images; iStock)
The ACS estimates that 67,440 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2025, and about 51,980 are expected to die from it. The tumor’s biology creates physical and chemical barriers that reduce the effectiveness of many traditional treatments.
No. 2: New immunotherapies are showing early promise
Researchers at UCLA recently reported progress on an experimental, off-the-shelf, cell-based immunotherapy designed to attack pancreatic cancer.
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In mouse studies, the therapy slowed tumor growth, extended survival and remained effective even after the cancer had spread to other organs, such as the liver and lungs.
The treatment uses special immune cells called natural killer T (NKT) cells, which are genetically modified so they can specifically recognize and attack pancreatic cancer cells.
Early research is exploring new approaches to pancreatic cancer, including experimental immunotherapies and studies of risk factors, but many findings are still in preclinical or observational stages. (iStock)
Unlike personalized therapies, the NKT cells are naturally compatible with different immune systems and can be mass-produced from donor stem cells.
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Researchers estimate that one donor could supply cells for thousands of treatments, with a potential cost of around $5,000 per dose. All testing so far has been done in mice, and human trials have not yet begun.
No. 3: Diet and gut health may affect treatment recovery
Separate research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has suggested that the amino acid cysteine could help the gut heal after cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation.
In mouse studies, cysteine — found in foods like meat, eggs, dairy products, legumes and nuts — helped to regenerate intestinal stem cells that are often damaged during cancer therapy.
Researchers are studying how diet, including nutrients such as cysteine found in high-protein foods, may help support recovery from pancreatic cancer treatments. (iStock)
Additional unpublished research showed benefits after treatment with 5-fluorouracil, a chemotherapy drug used for colon and pancreatic cancers.
Researchers emphasized that human studies are still needed and that cysteine is not a cure for cancer itself.
No. 4: Alcohol and lifestyle factors may raise cancer risk
Recent research published in PLOS Medicine by the International Agency for Research on Cancer found that alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
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The study followed 2.5 million people for about 16 years, finding that each additional 10 grams of ethanol consumed per day was linked to a 3% increase in risk. Higher intake levels were associated with greater risk, particularly with beer and spirits.
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Researchers noted that the study was observational and that more work is needed to understand lifetime drinking patterns.
No. 5: Symptoms are often subtle and easily missed
When symptoms do occur, they can include abdominal pain that spreads to the sides or back, loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss, according to Mayo Clinic.
Some patients develop jaundice — yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes — along with light-colored or floating stools, dark urine and itching.
Common warning signs of pancreatic cancer can include abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite. (iStock)
Other possible signs include a new diagnosis of diabetes (or diabetes that becomes harder to control), pain and swelling in an arm or leg that may be linked to a blood clot, and persistent tiredness or weakness.
Those who are experiencing symptoms should consult with a healthcare professional.
No. 6: Age, genetics and health conditions can raise risk
Pancreatic cancer risk is influenced by a combination of genetic, medical and lifestyle factors.
The disease becomes more likely with age, and men are slightly more susceptible, according to the ACS. Those with a family history or inherited genetic mutation also have a higher risk, as do people with type 2 diabetes, obesity and lack of physical activity.
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Diets high in processed or red meats and low in fruits and vegetables, as well as high alcohol consumption, may also contribute to pancreatic cancer risk, along with some occupational chemical exposures, per multiple cancer agencies.
Experts note, however, that many people are diagnosed with the disease despite having no clear risk factors.
Deirdre Bardolf, Ashley J. DiMella, Alex Nitzberg and Angelica Stabile, all of Fox News Digital, contributed reporting.
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The first oral GLP-1 medication for weight loss has been approved for use in the U.S.
The Wegovy pill, from drugmaker Novo Nordisk, was cleared by the Food and Drug Administration to reduce excess body weight, maintain long-term weight reduction and lower the risk of major cardiovascular events.
Approval of the once-daily 25mg semaglutide pill was based on the results of two clinical trials — the OASIS trial program and the SELECT trial.
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The Wegovy pill demonstrated a mean weight loss of 16.6% in the OASIS 4 trial among adults who were obese or overweight and had one or more comorbidities (other medical conditions), according to a press release. In the same trial, one in three participants experienced 20% or greater weight loss.
The first oral GLP-1 medication for weight loss has been approved for use in the U.S. (iStock)
Novo Nordisk reported that the weight loss achieved with the pill is similar to that of injectable Wegovy and has a similar safety profile.
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“With today’s approval of the Wegovy pill, patients will have a convenient, once-daily pill that can help them lose as much weight as the original Wegovy injection,” said Mike Doustdar, president and CEO of Novo Nordisk, in the press release.
Novo Nordisk reported that the weight loss achieved with the pill is similar to that of injectable Wegovy and has a similar safety profile. (James Manning/PA Images via Getty Images)
“As the first oral GLP-1 treatment for people living with overweight or obesity, the Wegovy pill provides patients with a new, convenient treatment option that can help patients start or continue their weight-loss journey.”
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The oral GLP-1 is expected to launch in the U.S. in early January 2026. Novo Nordisk has also submitted oral semaglutide for obesity to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and other regulatory authorities.
“Most side effects will be GI-related and should be similar to the injectable, such as nausea, vomiting and constipation,” an expert said. (iStock)
Dr. Sue Decotiis, a medical weight-loss doctor in New York City, confirmed in an interview with Fox News Digital that studies show oral Wegovy is comparable to the weekly injectable, just without the needles.
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Although the pill may result in better compliance and ease of use, Decotiis warned that some patients may not absorb the medication through the gastrointestinal tract as well as with the injectable version due to individual idiosyncrasies in the body.
“Most side effects will be GI-related and should be similar to the injectable, such as nausea, vomiting and constipation,” she said.
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“In my practice, I have found tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound) to yield more weight loss and fat loss than semaglutide by about 20%,” the doctor added. “This has been shown in studies, often [with] fewer side effects.”
More oral GLP-1s may be coming in 2026, according to Decotiis, including an Orforglipron application by Lilly and a new combination Novo Nordisk drug, which is pending approval later next year.
One expert warned that some patients may not absorb the medication through the gastrointestinal tract as well as with the injectable version. (iStock)
“There will be more new drugs available in the future that will be more effective for patients who are more insulin-resistant and have not responded as well to semaglutide and/or tirzepatide,” the doctor said. “This is great news, as novel drugs affecting more receptors mean better long-term results in more patients.”
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As these medications become cheaper and easier to access, Decotiis emphasized that keeping up with healthy lifestyle habits — including proper nutrition with sufficient protein and fiber, as well as increased hydration — is essential to ensuring lasting results.
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“If not, patients will regain weight and could lose muscle and not enough body fat,” she said.
Fox News Digital reached out to Novo Nordisk for comment.
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