Autism among the Somali Population in Minneapolis

Autism is terrifying the community of Somali immigrants in Minneapolis, and some pediatricians and educators have joined parents in raising the alarm. But public health experts say it is hard to tell whether the apparent surge of cases is an actual outbreak, with a cause that can be addressed, or just a statistical fluke. The New York Times reports:

In an effort to find out, the Minnesota Department of Health is conducting an epidemiological survey in consultation with the federal Center for Disease control and Prevention. This kind of conundrum, experts say, arises whenever there is a cluster of noncontagious illnesses. Since the cause of autism is unknown, the authorities in Minnesota say it is hard to know even what to investigate.

A small recent study of refugees in schools in Stockholm found that Somalis were in classes for autistic children at three times the normal rate.

Calls to representatives of Somali groups in Seattle and San Diego found that they were aware of the fear in Minneapolis but unsure about their own rates. Doctors familiar with the Somali communities in Boston and Lewiston, Me., had heard of no surges there.

Speculation is rampant about possible causes: living conditions in Somalia or in refugee camps in Kenya; traditional medicines; intermarriage; genetic predisposition; vitamin D deficiencies due to a lack of sunlight; and, of course, vaccines. But each theory has weaknesses.

Somalis began arriving in Minneapolis in 1993, driven out by civil war; now their population in Minnesota is estimated at 30,000 to 60,000. The city is welcoming and social benefits are generous, but many live a life apart as conservative Muslims, the women in head scarves and long dresses. Many Somali men have jobs as taxi drivers or security guards; others are accountants or run shops in the mini-malls catering to Somalis.

One question I would have is what is the rate of Autism in Somalia? When I worked with the Somali community in Birmingham, England, many of the women talked about Autism, but talked about it a way where they would say that their children "caught the disease here." Autism is a Western diagnosis and it is possible that many people in Somalia have it, but do not know what it is. Although this would not determine the cause, it would at least be able to lead to an understanding about whether this is a problem in immigrant communities or a problem among Somalis.