RFK Jr, now Trump's health czar, once claimed he got brainworm after India visit

Robert F Kennedy Junior, recently chosen by President-elect Donald Trump as the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in his cabinet, is at the center of widespread attention due to a resurfaced and controversial medical claim he made years ago.

Kennedy had stated that a brain abnormality he experienced in 2010 might have been caused by a parasitic worm that entered his brain during a trip to India early in his career.

The claim, originally disclosed during a 2012 deposition and elaborated on in subsequent interviews, has resurfaced online following his new appointment.

Kennedy described symptoms including "brain fog", memory issues, and word retrieval difficulties at the time. Initially, medical professionals suspected a tumour, but later tests suggested the abnormality was caused by a parasite, potentially linked to regions like India, where Kennedy had worked on environmental projects.

Kennedy even claimed that the parasite likely died on its own, leading to his recovery. "They said it's almost certainly a parasite that got into your brain. It ate a portion of it and then died," he recalled in a podcast earlier this year.

The medical condition Kennedy described bears similarities to neurocysticercosis, a parasitic infection caused by pork tapeworms. While such infections often lead to seizures and prolonged treatment, Kennedy primarily reported cognitive symptoms, which were resolved after the incident.

Kennedy's health at the time was further complicated by mercury poisoning caused by eating predatory fish. He revealed in the same podcast that tests had shown his blood mercury levels to be more than ten times the Environmental Protection Agency's safe limit. He underwent chelation therapy to remove the toxic metal, which he credited with alleviating his symptoms.

A spokesperson for Kennedy clarified earlier this year that both health issues were fully resolved over a decade ago. "Mr. Kennedy is in robust physical and mental health," the statement read, noting his extensive travel to regions in Asia, Africa, and South America as part of his environmental work.