CNN
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in the first press conference as the US Minister of Health and Welfare that the increase in the prevalence of autism in the United States reflects the “prevention” crisis infectious diseases caused by environmental toxins.
Advocates for people with autism have criticized this position as harmful and misleading. Existing studies described autism as a multi -personality condition that is greatly affected by genetics.
Experts have shown this week’s steady increase in autism prevalence, including US disease control and prevention reports, and “increased access to identification between previously marginalized groups.”
But Kennedy said that people who accept this explanation on Wednesday are “infectious diseases” in “Industrial Canada.”
“One of the things we think we should leave today is this ideology that increases the prevalence of autism (endless increase) is simply a better diagnostic, artificial material of a better diagnosis, better awareness or diagnostic criteria.”
He also compared autism to measles infectious diseases, calling for “real -time data” for autism prevalence.
“We do not wait to react to measles or any kind of infectious diseases for two years. We do not need to do so about diabetes or autism.”
Dr. Walter Zaharodny, an associate professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and co -author of the new CDC report, joined Kennedy at a press conference to reflect the claim that the increase in autism prevalence could not be better.
“I call it a surge in infectious diseases, tsunami or autism, and it will urge you to consider the possibility of an actual work that we do not understand, and must be caused or caused by environmental or risk factors,” he said. “We have to seriously solve this question because we have not actually made progress in understanding the causes of autism or how to effectively prevent or effectively treat autism.”
Kennedy said autism study would belong to a healthy American administration in a new chronic disease department. In a few weeks, he said, “We plan to publish a series of new studies to accurately identify the cause of environmental toxins.
The cause of autism was not fully understood, but research shows that genetics can play an important role. Kennedy, however, pointed out that the study line is just a “different alley” and instead of mold, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and ultrasound.
Kennedy said, “Genes do not cause infectious diseases. You can provide vulnerability. Environmental toxins are required.
On Tuesday, CDC announced a new data that shows that autism has increased among American children. About one out of 31 children was diagnosed with autism until the age of 8 in 2022, and increased in 1 out of 36 in 2020.
The author of the CDC report said that the early identification of autism was “obvious,” the difference in the prevalence of children identified as autism spectrum disorders in the community may be due to the difference in the possibility of use of services for early detection, evaluation and diagnostic practices. ”
The new study is based on the 16 -area monitoring data that participates in the autism and developmental disorder monitoring network of CDC. The data is not a representative nationwide and captures the data only in 11 sites, including the last report and other site sets with data from 2020.
Kennedy’s opinion on autism faces the rapid criticism of advocates for those who have autism, including the autism association, and promises to make a pledge that the cause of autism will be quickly confirmed and the exposure will be eliminated.
“Autism is not based on science, but it is unnecessary for people, parents, and families. It is not an infectious disease, it must be compared with the Covid-19 Pandemic, and should not use a language such as false, stigma and stereotypes. The prevalence informs that there is progress when it is related to screening and diagnosis. It is rooted in reliable methodologies. ”
