Louisiana’s Surgeon General Dr. Ralph Abraham is backing a bill to ban the fluoridation of public water in Louisiana. That comes despite broad scientific and public support for adding fluoride in water to prevent tooth decay.
The issue has resurfaced under United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has questioned the safety of fluoride in our drinking water. Kennedy has called for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to re-evaluate the conclusions it’s made on the benefits and safety of fluoridation.
As Louisiana Public Radio reports, Abraham said he has been working with Republican Senator Michael Fesi on the bill. “We are in support of most, if not all, of it. We have made recommendations,” said Abraham in support of Senate Bill 2.
Louisiana law currently requires the health department to set fluoridation levels. Abraham characterized Kennedy’s call to review the data on water fluoridation as “a good thing.” When asked why he supported the bill given the broad scientific and public health support for fluoride in water, Abraham said, “We have to keep an open mind.”
According to the CDC, Louisiana ranks #46, [37.9%] for the percentage of residents in each state who receive fluoridated Water. For comparison with nearby states, Arkansas is ranked #19 [86.8%]; Texas ranks #31 [70.7%]; and Oklahoma stands at #35 [63.5%].
The CDC named fluoridation of drinking water one of 10 great public health interventions of the 20th century because of the dramatic decline in cavities since community water fluoridation started in 1945.
Confirmed Second Measles Case
Dr. Abraham made the remarks during a wide ranging news conference on Monday, in which he also confirmed a second measles case in the state. This comes after the health department’s announcement Saturday of the first case of measles this year. Abraham said both patients were adults who appeared to have contracted the measles after traveling internationally. The first case involved an unvaccinated patient.
Abraham had banned the mass promotion of all vaccines earlier this year, but now says they have been promoting the measles vaccine in light of these cases.
