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West Texans, Mennonites at Center of Measles Outbreak Choose Medical Freedom Over Vaccine Mandates
Measles had struck this West Texas town, sickening dozens of children, but at the Community Church of Seminole, more than 350 worshippers gathered for a Sunday service. Sitting elbow-to-elbow, they filled the pews, siblings in matching button-down shirts and dresses, little girls’ hair tied neatly into pink bows
Fathers shushed babbling toddlers as their wives snuck out to change infants’ diapers.
A little girl in this mostly Mennonite congregation was among those who’d fallen ill with the highly contagious respiratory disease, senior pastor Dave Klassen said — but she’s doing fine, and she happily played through her quarantine. He heard that at least two Mennonite schools shut down for a bit to disinfect.
What he hasn’t heard: Any direct outreach from public health officials on what to do as the number of those sickened with measles has grown to 146 and a school-age child has died. And though Klassen is a trusted church and community leader, his congregants haven’t asked about whether they should vaccinate their kids — and he wouldn’t want to weigh in. “With this measles situation, I can honestly just tell you we haven’t taken any steps as a church,” he said. “We did leave it up to the mothers.”
Strong Link Between Western Diet During Pregnancy and ADHD
New research from Denmark reveals that a mother’s diet during pregnancy — characterised by a Western dietary pattern high in fat and sugar and low in fresh ingredients — may increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD and autism in children. Researchers see potential for targeted dietary interventions during pregnancy to reduce this risk.
Smoking, alcohol, and unhealthy diets have long been known to influence foetal development. Now, a comprehensive clinical study from the University of Copenhagen and the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood at the Danish Paediatric Asthma Centre, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, has found an association between maternal diet during pregnancy and the development of ADHD and autism in children.
“The greater a woman’s adherence to a Western diet in pregnancy — high in fat, sugar, and refined products while low in fish, vegetables, and fruit — the greater the risk appears to be for her child developing ADHD or autism,” says lead author, Dr. David Horner, M.D., PhD.
Longer Breastfeeding Linked to Blood-Pressure Lowering Effects of Certain Infant Gut Bacteria
National Institutes of Health reported:
An observational study supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that infants who had more diverse bacteria in their gut had lower childhood blood pressure, and this protective association was stronger if they were breastfed for at least six months. The findings published in the Journal of the American Heart Association
For the research, investigators reviewed data from 526 children enrolled in a prospective study in Denmark.
They looked for connections between infant gut bacteria, which can be influenced by nutrition and supports a variety of health functions, and childhood blood pressure. To assess this, they collected fecal samples to analyze bacteria in the infants’ intestines during their first week, month, and year of life. Three and six years later, they measured the children’s blood pressure.
The researchers found children with more diverse gut bacteria at one month had lower blood pressure six years later. They then assessed the influence of breastfeeding, which was measured in this study for durations of at least six months. They discovered that among children breastfed for at least six months, the blood-pressure lowering effect of having more diverse bacteria in their gut was even stronger. Specifically, those with a greater diversity of gut bacteria throughout the first month of life had systolic blood pressure that was about 2 mm Hg lower six years later if they were breastfed for at least six months.
City of Lakeland (Florida) Votes to Remove Fluoride From Drinking Water
The City of Lakeland has joined the growing list of local governments in Florida voting to remove fluoride from drinking water after commissioners signed off on the move Monday. The Lakeland City Commission voted unanimously Monday morning to stop supplemental fluoride, which had been a practice since 1981. Removing the chemical went into effect immediately following the decision.
There were good arguments on both sides, according to commissioners, but ultimately they based their decision to remove the additional 0.45 milligrams per liter on giving residents the freedom to decide for themselves what they should put in their own bodies.
“This is just one more step I think we take in giving people a choice to do what they need to do with their own neighborhood and kids in their area,” said Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz.
Group Launches Autism Chronicles Podcast to Support Parents
Autism Chronicles, a heartfelt and insightful new podcast, has been officially launched, offering an unfiltered look into the journey of raising and caring for autistic children.
Created by Paul and Esther Sule-Okeugo, the podcast provides support, awareness, and a much-needed platform for honest conversations about autism.
With only the first episode of the debut season out, Autism Chronicles is already sparking important discussions about raising a child with autism. Through raw storytelling, practical strategies, and expert insights, the podcast aims to bridge the gap in understanding autism within communities worldwide.
Listeners can watch on YouTube and stream on Spotify and all major podcast platforms. Start listening today, share with someone who needs it, and help create inclusive world for children like Zizah.
Many More Denver Teens Have Experienced Homelessness Than Official Counts Show
Denver saw an increase in youth homelessness from 10% to 25% between 2017 and 2021, according to our study recently published in the peer-reviewed journal “Pediatrics.” We are two physicians whose clinical work and research focuses on the social causes of health and disease. In particular, we’ve seen firsthand how housing instability influences health outcomes.
Homelessness takes many forms, including living on the street or in a car, motel or shelter, or staying temporarily with friends or family. This last scenario is known as “doubling up.”
Our findings suggest that 1 in 4 Denver youth age 14 to 17 experienced some form of homelessness in 2021, and that the number of youth experiencing homelessness in Denver is many times greater than what traditional methods find.
