baby gooroo recently reported here and here on the increase in the incidence of measles in the United States.

Since January 2008, 132 cases of measles have been reported—the largest number of cases in nearly 10 years. Most of the cases occurred in unvaccinated individuals or infants too young to be vaccinated. But despite this increase, some parents still choose not to vaccinate their children, citing concerns about autism.

The link between the MMR vaccine and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was first raised in 1998 by Wakefield and colleagues. Since then, over 20 epidemiologic studies have found no relationship between the MMR vaccine and ASD. Hornig and colleagues recently replicated the study done by Wakefield, conducting a case-control study to determine whether gastrointestinal symptoms and onset of autism were related to the timing of the MMR vaccine.

Results, published online at PLoS ONE, showed no difference in the presence of measles virus genetic material between children with or without autism. In addition, there was no relationship between the timing of the MMR vaccine and either the onset of gastrointestinal symptoms or the onset of autism.

Parents who remain skeptical might want to read Autism’s False Prophets by Paul Offit, MD. A national expert on vaccines, Offit challenges the modern-day false prophets who have so egregiously misled the public and exposes the opportunism of the lawyers, journalists, celebrities, and politicians who support them. Offit recounts the history of autism research and the exploitation of this tragic condition by advocates and zealots. He considers the manipulation of science in the popular media and the courtroom, and he explores why society is susceptible to the bad science and risky therapies put forward by many antivaccination activists.