In a short time, a new health secretary has made big changes to the Department of Health and Human Services.  This person has fired many public health workers, met with governors wanting to limit unhealthy foods in government programs, and sent mixed messages about vaccines during measles outbreaks.  They have also promised to find causes of rising autism rates in the U. S. quickly.  This has caused a mix of reactions.  Some people support these changes, while scientists and health experts have doubts.  Let's break down some of the claims made by the health secretary.

    The health secretary has talked a lot about autism.  They said that autism rates were much lower when they were a kid, and now they are much higher.  This is true, but the way autism is diagnosed has changed a lot.  The term "epidemic" is often used to describe increases in health problems, but it's not clear if autism fits this definition.  Health officials think the increase in autism diagnoses is due to better screening and diagnosis.  There is no blood test for autism; it's diagnosed by observing behavior.  Research has looked into many possible causes, including genetics, the age of the father, the weight of the mother, and chemicals in the environment.  Before becoming health secretary, they joined anti-vaccine advocates in claiming that childhood vaccines cause autism.  However, studies have shown this is not true.  A fraudulent study that claimed a link between the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine was later retracted.  The health secretary has announced a major study into the cause of autism and said they will have some answers by September.  But this is a big task, and it's not clear if they can deliver on this promise.

    The health secretary has also made claims about vaccines.  They said that vaccines cause deaths every year and that people should be able to choose whether to get vaccinated.  The facts show that the measles vaccine is safe and its risks are lower than the risks of complications from measles.  Most people who get the vaccine have no serious problems.  The most common side effects are mild, like a sore arm or fever.  There is a very small risk of febrile seizures, which is why the shot is recommended as early as possible.  Some people can have allergic reactions, but this is rare.  The health secretary has also said that the measles vaccine wanes quickly and that we will always have measles.  The facts show that the measles vaccine is highly protective and lasts a lifetime for most people.  Two doses of the vaccine are 97% effective against the virus.  Before the vaccine was introduced, the U. S. saw millions of cases per year.  Now, it's usually fewer than 200 in a normal year.  Most measles cases come from abroad, which is why high vaccination rates are important.

    The health secretary has also made claims about measles.  They said that an 8-year-old child in Texas did not die from measles, but from a bacterial infection.  The facts show that two children in Texas have died from measles complications.  The state health department has made clear that the children were not vaccinated and had no underlying conditions.  Doctors who treated the 8-year-old said she died of "measles pulmonary failure. "  The health secretary has also said that two Texas doctors have treated and healed some 300 measles-stricken Mennonite children using aerosolized budesonide and clarithromycin.  The facts show that there is no cure for measles.  The best way to protect against the risks of measles is to get vaccinated.  Budesonide is a steroid used to treat asthma and other conditions.  Clarithromycin is an antibiotic; it fights bacteria, not viruses.  Neither drug is recommended for treating measles.  The American Academy of Pediatrics says that there are no miracle cures for measles.

    The health secretary has also made claims about nutrition and obesity.  They said that 70% of Americans are obese or overweight, compared to 3% during President John F. Kennedy's tenure.  The facts show that nearly three-quarters of Americans are overweight, including about 40% with obesity.  Between 1960 and 1962, about 13% of people in the U. S. had obesity.  The rise in obesity in the U. S. and other developed countries has been well-documented and studied.  Experts say there is no single explanation for the increase, but that it stems from a combination of factors, including biological and environmental contributors, an increase in available calories, and a decline in physical activity.  Changes in the food supply, including the development of high-calorie, cheap ultraprocessed foods have been linked to obesity, but exactly how these foods affect weight gain remains unclear.  The health secretary has also said that food dyes affect academic performance, violence in schools, and mental health.  Recent research shows that synthetic food colors are linked to neurobehavioral problems in children.  But there is no clear evidence of a direct relationship between food dyes and academic performance, violence, or other mental and physical conditions.  The health secretary has also said that 50% of the population in China is diabetic.  The facts show that diabetes prevalence has gone up in China over the past two decades, but it's only about 12. 4%.

The Truth Behind Measles, Autism, and Diet Claims

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