FACT CHECK: US Vice President Hopeful JD Vance’s Disease Surge Claims Contradict Health Data
Local health data paints a different picture, revealing a general decline in reportable infectious diseases
Author
CLAIM:
JD Vance asserts a "massive rise" in communicable diseases like HIV and tuberculosis in , Ohio, because of a rise in Haitian migrant population
FACT:
Local health data shows no such massive increase in infectious diseases, contradicting Vance's claims.
US Senator and Donald Trump's running mate for the 2024 US Presidential elections, JD Vance, has once again stoked controversy, by claiming that Haitian migrants' presence in Springfield, Ohio has resulted in a "massive rise" in communicable diseases, particularly HIV and tuberculosis.
In a post on X.com, that has been viewed 16 million times and liked over 120,000 times, Senator Vance said "Do you know what's confirmed?... That local health services have been overwhelmed. That communicable diseases--like TB and HIV--have been on the rise."
In the last several weeks, my office has received many inquiries from actual residents of Springfield who've said their neighbors' pets or local wildlife were abducted by Haitian migrants. It's possible, of course, that all of these rumors will turn out to be false.
Do you know…
— JD Vance (@JDVance) September 10, 2024
This is not the first time he has made such claims about Haitian migrants in Springfield. "In Springfield, Ohio, there has been a massive rise in communicable diseases, rent prices, car insurance rates, and crime. This is what happens when you drop 20,000 people into a small community. Kamala Harris's immigration policy aims to do this to every town in our country," he said.
In Springfield, Ohio, there has been a massive rise in communicable diseases, rent prices, car insurance rates, and crime. This is what happens when you drop 20,000 people into a small community.
Kamala Harris's immigration policy aims to do this to every town in our country.
— JD Vance (@JDVance) September 13, 2024
This is part of a long line of bigoted and racially charged statements the Senator has been making about the migrant community in the small town- including infamously (and falsely) claiming that the migrants were eating local pets.
However, local health data paints a different picture, revealing a general decline in reportable infectious diseases.
Health records from Clark County, where Springfield is located, show that the rate of reportable infectious disease cases (excluding COVID) has decreased from 1431.4 cases per 100,000 people in 2018 to about 1017.8 cases in 2023. The Health Commissioner of Clark County told the ABC News in an email that the preliminary figures for 2024 were also comparable to 2023 numbers.
Contrary to Vance's assertions, tuberculosis cases in Clark County increased by only one case, from three in 2022 to four in 2023. The number of newly diagnosed HIV cases also increased only by one case; from 12 in 2021 to 13 in 2022. These numbers barely paint the kind of drastic image that Vance is trying to portray.
Critics argue that Vance's statements may be politically motivated and fail to reflect public health data accurately. They warn that such claims can incite unnecessary fear and stigma around specific communities and diseases.
Public health officials emphasize the importance of relying on accurate data and comprehensive analysis when discussing infectious diseases. The overall trend in Clark County suggests that while certain diseases may see localized increases or decreases, the broader context shows a decline in many communicable diseases compared to previous years during the Trump administration.
Vaccine-preventable diseases and sexually transmitted infections are also reported to be lower than in past years. This broader perspective underscores the complexity of public health trends and the need for nuanced interpretation of data.
As the debate continues, it remains crucial for policymakers and the public to base discussions on factual information provided by health authorities. Understanding the multifaceted nature of disease trends and their context within larger population changes is essential for developing effective public health strategies and avoiding unwarranted panic.
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