Newborns to get new early screenings

(ANSA) - Rome, May 4 - Italy will begin screening newborns within 48 hours of birth for a series of hereditary diseases, according to a health ministry decree handed to regional health authorities on Monday.
    The early screening will enable healthcare workers to offer treatment options before children begin to show symptoms or damage from their conditions. In some cases, the early diagnosis can prevent death.
    The Italian government is allocating 10 million euros a year to the screening program, starting this year.
    Screenings will begin on an experimental basis for a series of hereditary metabolic disorders. "Thanks to this measure, current newborn screening programs will be strengthened and broadened to effectively prevent inherited metabolic diseases, promoting the utmost uniformity in the application of early neonatal screening throughout the country," said Health Minister Beatrice Lorenzin. "In this way, damage caused by a delay in diagnosis can be prevented for these children."