Thalassaemia on the rise

kolkata: over the last few years, thalassaemia cases have recorded a sharp increase in west bengal, especially in kolkata, howrah, midnapore, 24 parganas, hooghly and birbhum, according to a latest survey conducted by the society. of the 4,740 patients tested for thalassaemia, 700 were carriers. this is much higher that the world-wide rate of seven per cent, said dr sudipa basu, secretary of the organisation.he was addressing a conference on thalassaemia. dr amitava chakraborty, a thalassaemic project coordinator claimed that lack of awareness is the main hindrance in the way of eradication of thalassaemia. blood tests must be made compulsory before marriage , said chakraborty. among the seven districts surveyed, north and south 24 parganas showed the highest number of thalassaemic cases (37.33 per cent). even in kolkata, the rate is as high as 16.59 per cent. chakraborty said that this indicates that urbanites are equally ignorant about the importance of blood tests done before marriage.