a. Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disorder characterized primarily by chronic anemia and periodic episodes of pain;

b. The clinical course of sickle cell anemia does not follow a single pattern, for the symptoms can range from mild to very severe;

c. Sickle cell anemia affects millions of people throughout the world but in this country affects approximately 72,000 people, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, most of whom are African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans of Caribbean ancestry;

d. Approximately two million Americans, or one in 12 African-Americans, carry the sickle cell trait; and the disease occurs in approximately one in 500 African-Americans and one in every 1,000-1,400 Hispanic-Americans;

e. All newborn infants born in New Jersey and in most other states are screened for sickle cell anemia; however, there is currently no known means of prevention or cure for the disease, although promising new methods of treatment have emerged from clinical studies in recent years, including drug therapy, bone marrow transplants from matched siblings, and umbilical cord blood transplants; and

f. There is a widespread need for information among those populations who are at greatest risk for carrying the sickle cell trait about the genetic risk factors associated with sickle cell anemia and the symptoms and treatment of the disease.

L.2011, c.210, s.9.