MUSCAT: Marrying close family members is leading to higher rates of genetic disorders in Oman, according to a new study conducted by the Ministry of Health and Sultan Qaboos University.
According to the study, nearly 60 per cent of the Sultanate’s population has genetic blood disease gene, which could lead to health complications.
The study revealed 5.7 per cent of the population carries the gene for sickle cell anemia, and 2.61 per cent the gene for thalassemia (B). More than one percent carry a gene for other sickle-cell diseases and nearly 10 per cent carry a gene from the genetic blood diseases genes in series (B), which are usually dangerous.
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Dr. Thoraya bint Saif Al Hosani, chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Omani Society for Hereditary Blood Diseases, said that genetic blood diseases are transmitted from parents to children and are prevalent not only in the Sultanate but also in many countries of the world and the Middle East, including the Gulf region.
According to Dr. Thoraya, consanguineous marriage is among the reasons for the increase in genetic diseases. “Even marriages with relatives carry the risk of disease outbreak in children. There are also reports of transmission of these diseases from one region to another,” she pointed out.
Dr. Thoraya said early medical examination is the basic and only way to limit the spread of these diseases.
