The government is usually the problem but in this case Utah has hit a home run! The Department of Health worked very effectively with the community and local and national experts to develop an innovative cystic fibrosis screening program -- Utah's new newborn screening program actually tests for 36 different genetic disorders including Cystic fibrosis.
Cystic fibrosis is the most common life-threatening disorder in the United States. You can'te prevent Cystic fibrosis (It's a genetic disorder, not caused by teratogens) but with early screening you can treat it effectively. In the 1950s, few children with cystic fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Currently, the life expectancy for people with the disease is close to 38 years!!
Screening programs like this will help.
