U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that taking Tylenol during pregnancy increases the risk of having a child with autism, and further asserted that there is no autism in Cuba because Tylenol is unavailable there. However, this statement has been identified as false.
On September 23 (local time), CNN reported that Cuba has been operating hospitals for years through its state-run medical system to treat autism, pointing out that President Trump's claim is both bizarre and incorrect.
Previously, at a White House press conference the day before, President Trump stated that taking Tylenol during pregnancy increases the risk of autism in children, citing Cuba as an example. He said, "I am told they don't have it (Tylenol) in Cuba because it is very expensive, and they can't afford to buy it," adding, "From what I hear, they essentially have no autism."
CNN noted that Cuban authorities have conducted campaigns to raise awareness about autism, and that anyone can find information about how Cuba's health insurance system addresses autism simply by searching the words "Cuba" and "autism" on Google. The incidence rate of autism in Cuba is 0.36 cases per 10,000 people, which is lower than in developed countries. However, Cuban doctors explain that this may be due to a lack of resources necessary for diagnosing autism. Despite limited resources, Cuban health authorities have emphasized that addressing autism remains a top priority, according to CNN.
Dr. Osmara Delgado Sanchez, a physician with the Cuban Ministry of Public Health, stated in an interview this April that 300 autism specialists are working at seven centers across Cuba. She added that Cuba has been developing specific autism treatment methods since 2018.
Cuban authorities have not responded to President Trump's recent claims. CNN also reported that these remarks have not yet been covered by Cuban state media.
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