A Texas doctor treating children during a measles outbreak was captured on video displaying a measles rash on his face in a clinic a week before being praised by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as an exceptional healer.
The video was posted on March 31 by the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense, led by Kennedy in the past. Dr. Ben Edwards was seen in the video interacting with parents and children in a makeshift clinic in Seminole, Texas, the epicenter of the outbreak that has impacted hundreds of individuals and claimed three lives, including two children.
When asked if he had measles, Edwards admitted to having the illness that started just before the video was recorded. “Yesterday was pretty achy. Little mild fever. Spots came in the afternoon. Today, I woke up feeling good,” Edwards shared in the video.
Measles is exceptionally contagious for several days before and after the rash appears, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health experts criticized Edwards for putting children, parents, and the community at risk by going into the clinic while infected, stating that there was no reasonable scenario for his actions.
In an April 6 post, Kennedy acknowledged meeting with Edwards along with another doctor, praising their use of unproven treatments for measles. Kennedy’s failure to consistently and emphatically promote vaccination in the face of the measles outbreak caused concern among medical professionals, such as Dr. Craig Spencer, who criticized Kennedy’s approach to healthcare.
Although uncertainty remains about Kennedy’s knowledge of Edwards’ infection when they met, a spokesperson for Kennedy insisted that he is not anti-vaccine and remains dedicated to improving children’s health. Despite Edwards claiming to have interacted only with already infected patients, public health experts raised concerns about his precautions and practices during the outbreak.
Jessica Steier, a public health scientist, questioned the steps Edwards took to confirm patients’ illnesses, emphasizing the risks associated with his actions in the clinic. The endorsement of Edwards by Kennedy and the lack of precautionary measures featured in the video were highlighted as alarming and dangerous by healthcare professionals.