The following post first appeared on FactCheck.org.
Rep. Mo Brooks and potential presidential hopeful Ben Carson both suggested a connection between illegal immigration and the spread of diseases such as measles in the United States. Though it is often difficult to pinpoint precise origins of disease outbreaks, there is no evidence supporting a link between the recent outbreaks and illegal immigration.
Brooks, a Republican from Alabama, was asked about the current measles outbreak in an interview with radio host Matt Murphy (at the 14:24 mark). The congressman said the immunization practices in the home countries of immigrants who are living in the U.S. illegally could be responsible for outbreaks.
–
Another report from the CDC on measles outbreaks between 2001 and 2004 cited U.S. residents returning from travel abroad as a major source of the disease, along with foreigners visiting this country. “Importation of measles from foreign visitors is unavoidable because no regulations are in effect requiring vaccination of visitors,” the report noted.
Editor’s Note: SciCheck is made possible by a grant from the Stanton Foundation.
