Alabama has joined 39
other states and the District of Columbia in requiring that all newborns be
screened for cystic fibrosis at birth.
"We congratulate Alabama for initiating a newborn screening program for
cystic fibrosis," said Robert J. Beall, Ph.D., president and CEO of the
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. "More than 40 states are now screening for the
disease. With every added state, more people with cystic fibrosis will have
a better chance at a healthier and longer life."
Cystic fibrosis is a fatal genetic disease that affects 30,000 children
and adults in the United States. Newborn screening for cystic fibrosis is
important because more than 10 million Americans are symptomless carriers
of a cystic fibrosis gene. Additionally, most people who have a child with
CF are not aware of a family history of the disease. Cystic fibrosis causes
thick mucus to build up in the lungs and other organs, resulting in
life-threatening infections and serious digestive complications.
Research studies show that newborn screening for CF will likely improve
and extend the lives of those born with the disease. Early diagnosis allows
affected infants to begin therapeutic interventions immediately. In
research studies, these interventions have been shown to improve height,
weight, nutrition, cognitive and lung functioning, and to reduce
hospitalizations.
When the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation was created in 1955, few children
lived to attend elementary school. Today, as a result of dramatic
improvements in research and care, the median age of survival for a person
with CF is 37 years. The Foundation strongly urges all states to implement
comprehensive programs for routine newborn screening for cystic fibrosis.
About the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the leading organization in the
United States devoted to curing and controlling cystic fibrosis.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., the Foundation has more than 80 chapters
and branch offices throughout the country and supports and accredits a
nationwide network of more than 115 care centers, which provide vital
treatments and other CF resources to patients and families. For more
information, visit cff.
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
cff