Beta-thalassaemia is a genetic blood disorder. A person who carries the beta-thalassaemia gene can appear perfectly healthy. However, where both partners carry the gene there is a 1 in 4 chance that their child could inherit both their genes and develop beta-thalassaemia major.
Well known personalities who are Carriers : Amitabh Bachchan, Amisha Patel, Pete Sampras, Zidene Zidane,
Incidence of Carrier state in India - 4 %
In India, around 80 to 90 % of the 10,000 babies born each year with the disease die from it.
The World Health Organisation has predicted that one million people will have the disease in the next 40 years.
The majority of infants with beta thalassemia will not have symptoms until they reach six months, because they start off with a different type of hemoglobin called fetal hemoglobin. After the age of six months "normal" hemoglobin starts replacing the fetal one.
