Azerbaijan officially registers 3,209 people diagnosed with thalassemia

A total of 3,209 people diagnosed with thalassemia are officially registered in Azerbaijan, according to the National Hematology and Transfusiology Center under the Ministry of Health.

The center stated that 1,654 of the registered patients are men, while 1,555 are women.

According to the institution, carriers of thalassemia are not included in dispensary registration because they are considered healthy individuals.

“Since 2015, individuals entering marriage have been tested for thalassemia carrier status, and based on the results of these examinations, the carrier rate across the country is approximately 4%,” the center said.

It was also noted that around 300 thalassemia patients are currently on the waiting list for bone marrow transplantation.

“This year, 14 bone marrow transplant operations have been performed at the National Hematology and Transfusiology Center. Six of those patients were diagnosed with thalassemia,” the statement added.

May 8 is observed as International Thalassemia Day.