In West Texas' measles outbreak, families forgo conventional medicine along with vaccines
As the measles outbreak continues to spread in West Texas, some families are opting for unproven remedies including cod liver oil.
SEMINOLE, Texas — The building where hundreds of families are lining up for measles care amid a fast-growing outbreak in West Texas looks more like an abandoned car dealership than a doctor’s office. There’s no signage, nothing saying “Open” or indicating office hours.
But nearly every day, dozens of pickup trucks from all over Gaines County fill the parking lot, squeezing into any available space.
Inside the building — a “barndominium” in West Texas parlance — there’s a handful of tables and chairs set up. Sick families, mostly Mennonite, sit in a makeshift waiting room on the far left, and Dr. Ben Edwards is at a table on the far right.
One by one, families are called over to meet with the doctor.
In this unmarked building in Seminole, Texas, Dr. Ben Edwards has treated almost 200 measles patients, he says.Erika Edwards / NBC NewsEdwards asks about their diet and nutritional intake but does not do bloodwork to look at levels of specific vitamins or nutrients. Based on the conversations with the parents and the child, he decides whether the patient might benefit from cod liver oil, which is high in vitamins A and D. Bottles of the product — offered at no charge — line tables in the room.
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