Boy Ordered to Transfer Schools for Carrying Cystic Fibrosis Gene Mutation

[Spurholder]

Link to article: http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/boy-ordered-transfer-schools-carrying-cystic-fibrosis-gene-110053855--abc-news-health.html

Curiousity overwhelms me in this case. I know that CF carriers are at greater risk for severe URI's, and that CF carriers shouldn't be around kids with compromised immune systems/other CF carriers; however...

What's the increased danger to the child with CF from the child that carries the mutated gene, over what any other kid could be carrying?

[High Tower]

What's the increased danger to the child with CF from the child that carries the mutated gene, over what any other kid could be carrying?

None that I know of. I saw this story a few days ago and was flabbergasted. The only way to get CF is if both of your parents are carriers. There is nothing he can transmit.

Perhaps this is too close to home for me as I have a nephew and niece with CF, but whoever made this decision has some serious issues.

[Kchen986]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/bb/Gataca_Movie_Poster_B.jpg/215px-Gataca_Movie_Poster_B.jpg

[chadbag]

Link to article: http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/boy-ordered-transfer-schools-carrying-cystic-fibrosis-gene-110053855--abc-news-health.html

Curiousity overwhelms me in this case. I know that CF carriers are at greater risk for severe URI's, and that CF carriers shouldn't be around kids with compromised immune systems/other CF carriers; however...

What's the increased danger to the child with CF from the child that carries the mutated gene, over what any other kid could be carrying?

I think the whole thing is ridiculous. However, the article I read said that medical professionals recommend that people with CF or who carry the gene should not get within X feet (where I remember X being around 3) of each other, as they are increased risk for carrying "bad germs" that can cause the other carrier/sufferer problems.

The question is, are they really likely to get that close to each other? Especially when they can point each other out and say "stay away from that dude/tte -- they may be carrying something you don't want" and the kids can make sure they stay far away.

This talks a little about keeping them away from each other:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cystic_fibrosis

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

So he only has one copy of the gene and is not symptomatic of cystic fibrosis? If so, why even put it on the school form? He is more prone to lung infections- with out a genetic test wouldn't this just be probably be attributed to a form of asthma?