This is what I meant. It occurs in populations that have a lot of malaria infections. I thought strictly in West Africa, although it did not occur to me that it happened in other areas of the world.
It originates there, but it is inheritable. Many of the black people in Britain who suffer from this debilitating problem are second or third-generation immigrants.
Probably similarly to the UK
Sickle cell disease: on the rise but under-recognised.
Epidemiology and prevalence
The epidemiology and prevalence of SCD may provide some insights as to why the condition has a low profile. SCD mainly affects people from African, Afro-Caribbean, Asian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean descent. To date there is an estimated 12,500-15,000 people living with SCD in the UK but the number is increasing and around 350 babies are born in England each year.
Sounds like they’ve only purchased enough to treat a third of their citizens with the disease.
