Poison center reports for vitamin A rose 39 percent during measles outbreak

Poison control centers recorded 86 pediatric vitamin A exposures nationwide between January 1 and March 31, 2025, a 38.7 percent increase over the same period in 2024. Researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital tracked Google search trends for “vitamin A and measles” and “cod liver and measles” from January through June 2025.

Search interest in vitamin A remained steady until February 25, then jumped 44 percent the next day and reached a peak of 100 percent relative search volume by March 22.

public statements The rise in searches followed public statements beginning February 19 that discussed vitamin A as a possible measles treatment. Interest in cod liver oil followed a similar pattern, peaking at 52.6 percent relative search volume on March 5.

After the statements, vitamin A searches ran 7.5 percentage points above projected levels and cod liver oil searches ran 1.3 percentage points above expectations. The study authors noted they could not determine whether the increased searches led to actual supplement use.

expert statements Vitamin A is essential for vision, immune function, reproduction, and cell health. Excess amounts can cause nausea, vomiting, vertigo, and blurry vision in the short term, and bone thinning, liver damage, headaches, and joint pain with long-term overuse.

Infectious disease experts stated that studies showing benefit involved children with vitamin A deficiency, which is rare in the United States. The two-dose MMR vaccine remains the most effective protection against measles, according to one public health professor.

Ninety-six percent of cases occurred in people who were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. Early 2026 data show 2,030 cases already reported in the first six months.