THE state of Minnesota is in the throes of its biggest measles outbreak in 27 years. As of 5 May, 44 cases had been confirmed. Of these, 42 people were unvaccinated, and 38 belonged to the state鈥檚 Somali-American community.
In 2008, some Somali parents raised concerns over what they perceived to be a high rate of autism in Somali-American children.
A subsequent study by the University of Minnesota, the Centers for Disease Control, and the National Institutes of 91色情片 found that autism rates among Somalis in Minneapolis were in fact similar to those of the city鈥檚 white population.
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Nevertheless, the concerns of the Somali community prompted anti-vaccination groups to begin targeting Somalis in Minnesota. Former doctor Andrew Wakefield, who lives in Texas, visited Somali communities in Minnesota several times, speaking to parents. Wakefield鈥檚 discredited 1998 study suggested a link between autism and the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Between 2004 and 2014, the MMR immunisation rate among 2-year-old Somali-Americans born in Minnesota dropped from 92 to 42 per cent.
State officials are now recommending that every Somali-born child across the state receives the MMR booster shot as soon as possible, and the same applies to all other unvaccinated children older than 1 year living in the affected counties.
This article appeared in print under the headline 鈥淢easles after MMR 鈥榮care'鈥�
