Internet Searches for Vitamin A and Related Media Statements During the 2025 US Measles Outbreak
By
Anne Christine Bischops
Mikkel Nagorsen
Ella Madsen
Maimuna Shahnaz Majumder
June 1, 2026
Objective: To examine the association between public interest in vitamin A as a treatment for measles and relevant media statements during the 2025 outbreak.
Key Findings: Search interest for 'vitamin A' measles peaked on March 22, 2025, while 'cod liver' measles peaked on March 5, 2025. Media statements promoting vitamin A as a treatment began on February 19, 2025. Vitamin A search interest was a mean 7.5 percentage points higher than the counterfactual estimate after media coverage began. Interpretation:
Limitations: The study cannot establish whether increased search interest translated into actual treatment behavior. Findings may not account for all factors influencing public interest. Conclusion:
