Thalassemia is a silent genetic disorder that can be prevented through awareness and screening

World Thalassemia Day was observed on 8 May. India records between 10,000 and 15,000 new cases of Thalassemia Major every year, with national carrier rates estimated at 3 to 4 per cent, and as high as 10 per cent in certain parts of West Bengal, according to health department data. As the country shoulders a significant share of the global thalassemia burden, health experts have called for urgent, widespread screening, increased public awareness and stronger preventive measures.

- ANWESHA SANTRA

India accounts for approximately 25 per cent of the world's β-thalassemia cases, with an estimated 42 million carriers nationwide. Every year, between 10,000 and 15,000 children are born with thalassemia major—the most severe form of the condition—requiring lifelong blood transfusions and intensive medical care.

What makes thalassemia particularly concerning is its uneven prevalence across different regions and communities. While the overall carrier rate in the general population is around 3.5 per cent, in certain tribal groups and ethnic communities it spikes dramatically. The Tharu community in Uttar Pradesh, for instance, records a β-thalassemia trait prevalence of 21.9 per cent, a figure that continues to alarm public health officials.

What is thalassemia?