New York State Department of Health Recognizes National Sickle Cell Awareness Month

Sickle Cell Predominately Affects the Black Community

Department is Educating New Yorkers About the Disease and Early Screening

ALBANY, N.Y. (September 24, 2024) – The New York State Department of Health recognizes National Sickle Cell Awareness Month by educating New Yorkers about the blood disorder and the importance of early screening and donating blood.

"Sickle Cell is a serious condition that predominately affects the Black community," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "Sickle Cell takes a devastating physical, emotional and financial toll on people who have the condition and on their loved ones. We encourage New Yorkers to learn about the disease and our Newborn Screening Program, which screens babies for the disease and to consider donating blood, which can benefit patients with sickle cell."

Sickle cell disease is a blood disorder that affects the hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to the body, within the red blood cells. A genetic mutation produces abnormal hemoglobin that causes the red blood cells to turn sickle-shaped and clump together. These sickle-shaped cells cause blockages in blood flow, which can lead to anemia, pain, infections, and other severe complications.

The only cures for the disease are stem cell transplants or using gene editing Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) technology to correct the genetic mutation.

The condition affects more than 100,000 people in the United States and 20 million worldwide. Each year, sickle cell disease is detected in about 100-150 babies in New York State.

In the U.S., most people who have sickle cell disease are Black. About one in 13 Black babies are born with the sickle cell trait and about one in every 365 Black babies are born with sickle cell disease. Sickle cell disease can also occur in people from Hispanic, Southern European, Middle Eastern, or Asian Indian backgrounds.

The New York State Newborn Screening Program, which provides screening for more than 50 diseases including sickle cell disease, aims to help babies born in New York live long and healthy lives. Newborn screening refers to medical tests, the majority of which are genetic performed to identify babies at high risk for a number of disorders, which without medical intervention, cause significant morbidity in newborns and even death. Early diagnosis and treatment of these disorders can lead to better outcomes for the newborn.

The program effectively identifies babies at high risk for screened disorders and is required by law for all newborns born in New York State unless the parents confirm, in writing, that they have a religious objection.

The Department remains committed to educating New Yorkers about sickle cell disease and the importance of newborn screening.

The Department also urges New Yorkers to learn about blood donation and donate blood if they are able, because blood transfusions can help people with sickle cell disease.

Information about the New York State Newborn Screening Program can be found here.

Living With Sickle Cell Disease can be found here.

Locations for New Yorkers to donate blood can be found here.