For years now, scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and elsewhere have said that autism is probably a purely genetic disorder, and that the dramatic increase in numbers was due to better diagnostics, wider reporting and greater awareness -- and not because of any environmental factors.
Those days are over now.
Today, I received an email from an official in the Office of CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding (rumored to be on her way out in January), "Office of Enterprise Communication," replying to my questions on what the agency is doing to look into the reportedly high rate (1 in 28) of Somali children with autism in Minneapolis.
The responses I got from the CDC (and the Minnesota Department of Health) were thorough, thoughtful, and quite lengthy. They will be published in their entirety shortly at www.ageofautism.com.
But one of the last questions answered by the CDC really stuck out.
I cannot recall anything quite like it from any Federal agency when asked a question about the possible causes of autism.
Instead of the usual, tired, "it's just better diagnostics" mantra one routinely gets from most public health authorities (and prominent author-pediatricians), this particular person at the CDC chose to tell the refreshing truth -- and it is something that I have been saying for quite some time, myself.
Here is the question I posed to CDC:
If it is determined that Somali children in Minnesota do in fact have higher rates of autism than non-Somali children in Minnesota, and that they also have higher rates than Somali children in Somalia, will CDC officially concur that autism, at least in these cases, must necessarily have an environmental component?
And here is part of the reply:
While it is important to understand if autism is affecting any group of children disproportionately, it is also important to keep in mind that there are likely multiple causes of the autism spectrum of disorders. Most scientists agree that today's research will show that a person's genetic profile may make them more or less susceptible to ASDs as a result of any number of factors such as infections, the physical environment, chemical exposures, or psychosocial components.
The idea that "chemical exposures" (vaccine related or otherwise) might cause autism still brings virtual apoplexia to certain scientific circles. Let's hope they all take a deep breath and consider the CDC's wisdom.
Thank you, Centers for Disease Control.
Thank you for your candor, your courage, and your ability to admit that there is no such thing as a genetic epidemic.
This thanksgiving has a significance meaning for Somali parents that have children with autism and live in Minnesota. For years our children have been diagnosed with a disorder that we never heard of.
When a mom is pregnant and anyone asks what are you having a boy or a girl. Her response is “I don’t care as long as it is healthy”. No parent wants to hear that there is anything wrong with their child. When one becomes a parent, god blesses them with courage, strength and wisdom so that they can guide and raise their children. We have been standing strong because of those blessings.
Autism not only takes all of those dreams from parents but it locks your beautiful child into a world where he is not able to express needs. Going to a grocery store without a meltdown, saying mom when he sees you, asking for a glass of water, being able to change routines with no problems seem so effortless, but are so grueling for a child with autism.
These dreams have been taken away from so many Somali families in Minnesota.
This thanksgiving day, we are thankful to David Kirby. David listened to Somali parents with an open ear, looked at us with kind eyes and went to work with a sharp mind.
We will forever be thankful to David and Ariana Huffington.
We wish you all a happy thanksgiving.
Name; A Thankful Somali Parent!
My pedatrician suggested that my 3rd son,unaffected physically by autism should require another chicken pox. vac.. Because simply "they", now believe the first dose is not as effective without this second dose; and yes even OUr DR. had vaccinated her own children..
WHY? She believes in THEIR MARKETING.. I DO NOT.SO WAIT THE FIRST ROUND REALLY WASN'T WHAT "THEY " SAID IT WAS. Go FIgure. MUltiply that in dollars and sense what a great new product line ,LET'S TRY IT AGAIN VACCINE...
We passed on pox ,flu vaccine especially; reccomended for a child with asthma.....That one too ? Especially reccomending a vaccine with only one strain that maybe will combat whatever flu that shows up.1 of 800 or so known flus...........
Mothers baby number 3 was not vaccinated in their order it happened on my terms... almost a 14- 15 month later...which then delayed other rounds. Simply not affected by autism Thanks to Mr. Kirby for his unwavering committment to this cause. PHARMA HAS CAUSed our numbers to rise......and soon our voices will be convicingly heard.
"I am not a doctor."
--Jenny McCarthy, italicized for emphasis in LOUDER THAN WORDS by same
One of the most common things we hear is that the parents had the child vaccinated and the in the next couple of days they began to act funny and then were eventually diagnosed with autism. This is mainly due to the difficult nature of diagnosising a infant/toddler with autism. The truth is that there were probably subtle signs (child lining up toys rather than playing with them, not responding to their name, not seeming to have self awareness, or perceverating on certain items) that the parents did not understand and simply dismissed as strange behavior but are in fact indicators for autism.
Though it seems strange, other parents have said that it as if someone "flipped a switch" on their child who hadn't been vaccinated either recently or at all. While I don't dismiss the theory that vaccinations could possibly trigger the condition in a predisposed child, I feel that that we need to have some rigorous scientific study to validate that theory.
Similar circumstances happened to a child who was recently awarded by the NVICP for a vaccine injury. Her name was Hannah Poling.
This can happen, and has happened, to children. I appreciate the respectful post, but you're not hearing the whole story.
I'm concerned that now another research circus is going to begin, with lots of stalling to study defunct pesticides and other anything-but-vaccines chemicals.
My understanding is that the CDC position has been that autism has a combination of genetic and environmental causes. Can you please provide a link to the CDC saying that autism is a purely genetic disorder?
For those of you still hammering on thimerasol, it has been phased out of vaccines since 2001 with no decrease in autism rates.
And as a reminder, Harvard researchers have identified the autism genes: http://harvardmagazine.com/harvard-in-the-news/researchers-identify-autism-genes
The autism genes? These genes only show up in less than 2% of the autism population, so there is a slight flaw in that theory, too.
Mercury is a naturally occurring element, found in nearly everything we eat and drink, including breast milk. The trace amount found in vaccines is much less than you receive in a tuna fish sandwich.
If vaccines caused autism, don't you think the correlation would show up in the dozen or so epi studies done over the last 10 years?
The CDC and FDA want to keep the danger hidden and underestimated, so they perist in allowing thimerosal, and remove it as slowly as possible.
The CDC and FDA are simply hiding their tracks. They probably have the data that shows exactly what is causing autism, but wont release it.
Scientists at the FDA and CDC are unethical and lie about anything and everything. They dont give a damn about public health. The FDAs decisions regarding prescription drugs and food additives is proof of that.
guess the CDC learned something when they reviewed the Poling's records.
Too bad we might never know what that was other than glimpses such as this current statement.
I am also a skeptic. While I am exasperated at all the garbage we put into our environment and food, and hence our bodies, and I do think it very possible that all these contaminants can and do have detrimental effects on our health, I am also reasonable enough to point to causation only when there is evidence for it.
Is mercury poisonous? Yes, above a certain level. Should thimerosal have been used in vaccines? Most likely not. Is thimerosal the root cause of autism. No. All the evidence and research show no link between vaccines and autism. It's simply a conspiracy theory based upon fear and ignorance. And those that choose not to vaccinate their children put the rest of the population at risk for epidemic outbreaks of disease.
I know all the evidence won't change the mind of a believer, but perhaps those that aren't sure will be moved to do actual research and find out for themselves the facts and findings over the past 20 years regarding this subject, and especially what vaccines are and how they work.
Mercury...."poisonous above a certain level"....really? What level is that? If you're so certain, please by all means, open a thermometer and drink some. I'm sure that minimal "level" won't be harmful.
I couldn't disagree with you more. In the 80's there were about 10 vaccines, now there are 35, and the autims rate has skyrocketed. By your logic, this is NOT a coincidence?
Maybe you should check who FINANCES the "evidence" that makes you believe that injecting our children with harmful chemicals that settle in brain tissue and do irreperable damage in their growing stages. I am going to get my son vaccinated today and am scared to death as this vaccine is made with formaldahyde. I know, I know... it's harmless.... so by all means, please go home tonight and take a shot of it....although you may have to go to your local funeral home to get it.
The medical industry prays for people like you.... just do as they say and question nothing.
Except that they no longer have thermometers that contain mercury. The FDA and EPA said that it was too dangerous of a substance...
But, it's ok to put it in the Vaccines....doesn't hurt anybody (rolling my eyes).
My advice to young parents is to do lots and lots of research before making your decision. It is irrevocable.
What you clearly have absorbed is the propaganda that keeps getting turned out on this issue by the CDC and the vaccine manufacturers. The "true believers" here are those who believe blindly that Merck, the FDA and the CDC are doing a peachy job managing vaccine safety. People who make aggressive claims about evidence really have an obligation to review the evidence on ALL sides, not just the official talking ponts, before you opine.
To Chinamam and USNA73, I couldn't agree more with both of your posts. Let's figure this out ASAP; and anybody that isn't helping bail water needs to be put out of the boat.
Courage means doing the right thing, at the moment, reagrdless of the cost of personal sacrifice. I know courage Ms. Geberding, I have seen it,..... and this is not courage.
This is concession, purely politically calculated and self-serving because the Obama administration, with Mr. Daschle at HHS and a new Chairman for the Overisight Committee are coming to town.
Families like ours have suffered unbearable and irreparable damage while politics has invited and encouraged denials and posturing to oppose science and reason. The next time I am challenged on any level about my bearing witness to seeing my son mercury being posoined at the hands of the pharmaceutical industry, I'm going to react understandably and justifiably. It won't be pretty.
Make the environmental whores pay up. Now.
I keep saying I don't care who caused it (well I do, but....) lets just figure it out, so we can save more children, and families from having to live in this hell that is autsim, and while we are at it, heal the ones that already have it!
Buy organic fruits and vegetables, and make your own baby food. Hand grinders are cheap and very easy to use.
This is a huge admission. Will they next attempt to say "A person's genetic profile may make them more or less susceptible to ASDs as a result of ...chemical exposures ...EXCEPT FOR EXPOSURE TO THE TOXINS IN VACCINES"?
Anne Dachel
Media editor: Age of Autism
Although my son is mainly non-verbal, I know that he thanks you too for your efforts in finding the cause so we can in turn find a cure for our kids and adults on the spectrum.
blindjester.... The one and only year my kids got a flu shot was the worse year ever for illnesses for them. You may want to keep this in mind. I am positive that the flu shot was the reason they were so ill. They got the one that was "so called" thimerisol free. It is hard to find them but it is worth it to call around everywhere in your region for one that has zero thimerisol. You can also have your clinic special order it, they will give you a hard time but push it on them. They more than likely will cave.
I asked my pediatrician if their vaccines contain thimerisol... she said they did not. Because I don't really trust her.... I space the vaccines out as much as I can. I am many months behind right now.... but I believe my son needs months to recover after a shot.... and allow his immune system to recover..... if it does.
I am going for a shot with him today....and am so scared and anxious.
I am of the belief that the pharma and medical industry has a great interest in getting us sicker... because it assures future profits for them....so I stopped listening to them years ago, and do most of my own research....and then go to the doctor informed and confident.
This is the only article I could find on this right now. I swear I found one not too long ago about a flu shot that has zero thimerisol. If someone else out there could help with this, please do so!
We couldn't find a clinic that was sure their shots didn't have thimerosol.
It's like looking for baby food without DDT. Seems like a no-brainer, but somehow it isn't.
Think about all the people being injected with mercury and formaldahyde every year. How can they possible make them healthier when these chemicals really depress the immune system?
Our bodies make formaldehyde. It's naturally occurring and harmless at the concentrations found in our blood. Or in a banana.
Why are you spreading disinformation about vaccines? Don't you realize how destructive that is? How can we take anything else you say seriously?