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(Lynchburg-AP) -- About 100 doctors, researchers and parents gathered in Lynchburg Saturday to try to understand what's behind an alarming rise in the number of children with autism.

According to the Autism Program of Virginia, the number of children in the state with the condition has jumped about 78 percent over the past three years, and researchers are not sure why.

One of the speakers at the conference was Doctor Andrew Wakefield, a British physician whose studies suggest that the increase may be caused by toxic mercury in the vaccines routinely given to young children.

Wakefield's claims have prompted a congressional investigation, which recently concluded that mercury does not belong in children's immunizations. Federal officials are urging pharmaceutical companies to start making vaccines without the substance.

More than 2,700 children in Virginia have autism, according to the state Autism Program.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Date published: 5/26/2003

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