COLUMBUS, Ohio-Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced that Ohio will become the first state in the United States to screen all newborn babies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). This provision was included in the state’s budget bill for fiscal years 2024-25, signed by the governor in July of the previous year.
DMD has been added to the list of 40 other rare medical conditions included in the Ohio Department of Health’s Newborn Screening program. DMD is a severe form of inherited muscular dystrophy, with approximately 20,000 cases diagnosed worldwide each year.
The screening is expected to identify around 35 babies with DMD in Ohio annually. Ohio law mandates newborn screening for all babies born in the state, with analysis conducted in ODH’s Public Health Laboratory. Governor DeWine emphasized the importance of early diagnosis for initiating care for children with DMD.
https://www.wlwt.com/article/ohio-governor-mike-dewine-muscular-dystrophy-newborns/60583149
