In the wake of a court ruling disclosed last week, US officials have conceded that vaccines may have exacerbated an autism-like disorder in a young girl. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, emphasized that the decision to award damages to the victim's family does not prove a link between autism and vaccines.

The girl has a rare disorder that produces symptoms similar to autism. Her parents argued before a special 'vaccine court' that the disorder surfaced after she received five vaccine shots as an infant. CDC director Julie Gerberding downplayed the link, calling the case “very special”.

The ruling was hailed as a victory by activists who believe there is a connection between the vaccines' preservative, thimerosal, and the disorder. About 5,000 other families are also seeking compensation in court.