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    The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has announced that 1 in 88 children in the U.S. are now diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) .

 The number represents a 23 percent increase in the last two years and 78 percent in the past five years.

 But that was just the average-the numbers were much greater for Hispanics (110 percent) and black children (91 percent).

 The study, published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reportii , also found that ASDs are nearly five times more common among boys than girls.

 Broken down, the numbers equate to 1 in 54 boys with ASDs, and 1 in 252 girls. The updated estimates are based on data collected in 14 American communities during 2008.

 These communities comprised over eight percent of all American 8-year-olds that year. Interestingly, the number of children with ASDs varied widely from site to site.

 The highest prevalence was found in Utah, where a staggering 1 in 47 eight-year-olds were identified with some form of ASD.

 New Jersey was also far higher than the average, with 1 in 49iii . What’s really going on here?