Science/Medicine : Newborn Screening Success
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California Health Director Kenneth W. Kizer has announced a major milestone for the California Newborn Screening Program.
The 3 millionth infant has been screened for serious developmental disorders, and since inception of the program in October, 1980, not a single case has escaped detection, Kizer said.
The California Newborn Screening Program examines over 99% of California’s newborn babies, which number nearly 500,000 a year now. These disorders can result in severe mental retardation and abnormal physical development.
Since 1980, 900 affected infants have been isolated and, through the use of special diets or medication, serious mental retardation or early death has been prevented.
