Surge in autism 'never happened'

THE surge in autism that fuelled fears of a link with the MMR vaccine may never have occurred, it was claimed today.

Researchers say the huge increase seen since 1979 may simply be the result of more awareness and better record keeping.

Professor Brent Taylor and colleagues from the Royal Free and University College Medical School in London argue that the apparent rise is not "real" and goes hand-in-hand with the MMR scare.

Writing in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, they said the increase was probably due to "increased recognition, a greater willingness to accept the diagnostic label, and better recording systems".

In 2001, the Autism Research Unit at the University of Sunderland reported a tenfold increase in autism rates over the previous decade.

This and other findings have heightened fears autism might be linked to the measles, mumps, and rubella multiple vaccine.

Government health experts have insisted there is no proven link, and warned parents not to put their children at risk by refusing to give them the MMR jab.

The new findings are based on a follow-up of 567 London autistic children born between 1979 and 1998.

The children had been the subject of previous research by Prof Taylor’s team which indicated the numbers of new cases had increased year-on-year between 1979 and 1992.

But later data collected by the researchers showed this rise had stopped. The most recent figures revealed a levelling out of 45 to 50 reported cases a year between 1992 and 1996 - equivalent to 2.6 cases for every 1000 live births.

The age at which children were diagnosed with autism had also been falling since 1985.

These results raised questions about the validity of the earlier recorded increase in prevalence, said the researchers.

A Department of Health spokesman said: "There is no credible scientific evidence showing an association between MMR and autism."