China Scene: South

Many thalassemia sufferers die before they reach 15

The Thalassemia Prevention Association in Guangdong province said many sufferers of the inherited blood disease die before they reach 15 because they cannot afford expensive medical treatment.

One ninth of Guangdong's population carry thalassemia genes and most of the identified patients are very ill. Such patients have to rely on blood transfusions for the rest of their lives, but 90 percent of them die young because the treatment is estimated to cost 100,000 yuan ($15,400) a year, said the association.