Some doctors are giving away untested treatments like cod liver oil while the outbreak rages. Families are waiting in line to get them.
SEMINOLE, Texas – In West Texas, a rapidly spreading measles outbreak has hundreds of families waiting in line for care in a structure that resembles an abandoned auto dealership rather than a medical facility. Nothing that reads “Open” or specifies office hours is present.
However, the parking lot is packed with dozens of pickup trucks from all over Gaines County almost every day, cramming themselves into every available spot.
A few tables and chairs are arranged inside the structure, which is known as a “barndominium” in West Texas lingo. Dr. Ben Edwards is seated at a table on the far right, while sick families, primarily Mennonite, are seated in a temporary waiting area on the far left.
Families are summoned one by one to see the physician.
Although Edwards does not perform blood work to check for levels of particular vitamins or nutrients, he does inquire about their diet and nutritional intake. He determines whether the patient could benefit from cod liver oil, which is rich in vitamins A and D, based on his discussions with the child’s parents. The product’s bottles, which are provided free of charge, are arranged on tables throughout the space.
Edwards suggests budesonide, an inhaled steroid commonly used for asthma, if children are experiencing severe respiratory difficulties.
