Autism rates high in Somali kids

new report confirms that Somali children in Minneapolis are in autism programs at a higher rate than non-Somali children. But a long-awaited report from the Minnesota Health Department doesn’t speculate on why.

By: By Chris Williams, The Associated Press , The Jamestown Sun

MINNEAPOLIS — A new report confirms that Somali children in Minneapolis are in autism programs at a higher rate than non-Somali children.

But a long-awaited report from the Minnesota Health Department doesn’t speculate on why.

The study finds the percentage of Somali children in the Minneapolis district’s autism programs is two to seven times higher than for non-Somali children. It was for children ages 3 to 4 for three years starting in 2005.

Some Somali parents have speculated that the higher autism rates were related to vaccines, lead exposure or vitamin D deficiency.

Tags: news, somali, children, kids, autism, health

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