Autism

Measles outbreak in Minnesota’s Somali community tests public health outreach as vaccine fears persist MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota health officials racing to contain a measles outbreak centered in Minneapolis’ large Somali community are confronting entrenched vaccine fears stoked by long-running myths about autism and the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) shot. Fourteen measles cases have been confirmed statewide since February. About half are in Somali children, six of whom were not vaccinated and one of whom was too young for shots,…

Current evidence does not link paracetamol use in pregnancy to autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or intellectual disabilities, according to a wide-ranging review published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Women’s Health. The findings, from an international team of researchers, support existing guidance that paracetamol — known as Tylenol in the United States — remains safe to use during pregnancy when taken as directed. The review comes after U.S. President Donald Trump said in September there…

Review finds no link between paracetamol use in pregnancy and autism, ADHD or intellectual disability Current evidence does not link paracetamol use in pregnancy to autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or intellectual disabilities, according to a new review published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Women’s Health. The findings directly counter recent public claims that the common painkiller—marketed in the United States as Tylenol—could be a cause of autism. In September, US President Donald…

Hassan recounted discovering the boy’s mother near the front pond, where Mohamed often ran. "She kept insisting her son was in the pond, and I tried to comfort her by saying, 'Let's stay hopeful; maybe he just wandered off, and someone will spot him,'" Hassan remembered vividly. By half-past nine in the evening, authorities notified the family they had found something in the water. Confirmation of Mohamed’s recovery came at around 10 p.m. This heartbreaking event echoes another sorrowful incident from June, when 4-year-old…

Empowering Families: The Somali Autism Summit Sparks Critical Conversations The inaugural Maangaar Summit, hosted in Bloomington, was a vibrant gathering that drew Somali parents, healthcare professionals, and service providers together. They shared a singular goal: tackling the hurdles faced by families with autistic children in their community. "Maangaar," which translates to "unique mind" in Somali, symbolizes their focus on autism. This issue has become particularly pressing in Minnesota, where, by 2020, one in 16…