Health officials in New York and New Jersey have identified several new cases of measles, coming amid an outbreak of the highly contagious viral disease in Texas, with 159 cases, 22 hospitalizations and one child death recorded since January. Fears of a wider epidemic have grown, after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. initially downplayed the outbreak, then promoted alternative treatments — rather than vaccination — to combat measles. In an interview that aired on Fox News Tuesday, Kennedy did not mention vaccines once, but said his agency was sending doses of steroids, antibiotics and supplements to combat the measles outbreak.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: “Budesonide, which is a steroid. It’s a 30-year-old steroid. And clarithromycin and also cod liver oil, which has high — high concentrations of vitamin A and vitamin D.”