Campaigners demand action against MMR vaccine.

[Guest guest]

MMR campaigners demand action as autism cases soar KEVIN SCHOFIELD EDUCATION CORRESPONDENT Massive rise in number of secondary pupils with autism in past six years Campaigners say investigation needed into potential link with MMR vaccine They claim parents should have the choice of single vaccinations instead http://news.scotsman.com/health.cfm?id=692602006 Key quote"The number of young children who have this previously very rare diagnosis is reaching epidemic proportions and it is being ignored by the medical establishment." - Bill Welsh, chairman of Action Against Autism Story in fullA MASSIVE surge in the number of autistic schoolchildren in

Scotland has been exposed after figures showed an increase of more than 600 per cent in secondary pupils with the condition in the past six years. Official statistics show 825 pupils were diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder in state secondaries in 2005, compared with 114 in 1999 - an increase of 623 per cent. Over the same period, the number of autistic youngsters in primary schools more than quadrupled, from 415 to

1,736. The increases emerged in a written parliamentary answer to be made public today. Campaigners last night said the figures were further proof that an urgent investigation was needed into the rise in the condition and its potential link with the triple mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Although no link has ever been clinically proven, campaigners say parents should have the choice of giving their children single vaccinations instead. Bill Welsh, the chairman of Action Against Autism, said: "Nobody has offered a plausible explanation as to why this has happened. "This is not a Scottish problem; it is a developed world problem, because the same thing is happening in America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. One common factor affecting children throughout the developed world is the

vaccination issue. "The number of young children who have this previously very rare diagnosis is reaching epidemic proportions and it is being ignored by the medical establishment. "This is a tragedy for every child concerned and yet our politicians concentrate on soft areas like obesity and ignore the difficult questions, like why we have so many children with neurological problems." Mr Welsh said the situation amounted to an apparent "public health crime". He added: "We need truly independent, clinical research into why these children withdraw into the world of autism." "Our ideal is not the spirituality that withdraws from life but the conquest of life by the power of the spirit." - Aurobindo.

How low will we go? Check out Messenger’s low PC-to-Phone call rates.