All Fifty States to Screen Newborns for Cystic Fibrosis by 2010

Connecticut and Texas Last to Join Others in Testing for Life-threatening
Disease

BETHESDA, Md., July 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Cystic Fibrosis
Foundation announced today that all 50 states plus the District of Columbia
have passed legislation requiring that all newborns be screened for cystic
fibrosis (CF) by the year 2010.

Early diagnosis of cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening, genetic disease, can
have a dramatic impact on the health of those born with the condition.

Newborn screening for CF was adopted nationwide at a rapid pace, following the
aggressive advocacy efforts of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, its volunteers
and many local and national interest groups. In 2005, only five states
required that CF be included on the list of mandatory screening conditions.

After years of debate, Texas and Connecticut - the last two states without
mandatory newborn screening - will now establish programs. Connecticut will
begin screening Oct. 1, 2009, and Texas is expected to start in December.

"We congratulate Texas and Connecticut for joining a nationwide effort to
ensure that every child born with cystic fibrosis gets the best possible start
in life," said Robert J. Beall, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Cystic
Fibrosis Foundation. "Newborn screening is critically important for this
disease because early diagnosis is tied to better health. We extend our
thanks to every volunteer and advocate who fought to establish screening
programs across the country."

Research shows that newborn screening for CF likely improves and extends the
lives of those born with the disease. Early diagnosis allows affected infants
to begin therapeutic interventions immediately. Early treatment has been
shown to improve height, weight, nutrition, cognitive and lung functioning,
and to reduce hospitalizations.

Cystic fibrosis affects approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United
States and 70,000 people worldwide. It causes thick mucus to build up in the
lungs and other organs, resulting in life-threatening infections and serious
digestive complications. More than 10 million Americans are symptomless
carriers of a cystic fibrosis gene. Most people who have a child with CF are
not aware of a family history of the disease.

When the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation was created in 1955, few children lived to
attend elementary school. Today, as a result of dramatic improvements in
research and care fueled by the Foundation, the median age of survival for a
person with CF is more than 37 years.

About the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the leading organization in the United
States devoted to curing and controlling cystic fibrosis. Headquartered in
Bethesda, Md., the Foundation has more than 70 chapters and branch offices
throughout the country, and supports and accredits a nationwide network of
over 110 care centers, which provide vital treatments and other CF resources
to patients and families. For more information, visit http://www.cff.org/.

SOURCE Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Laurie Fink, Director of Media Relations of Cystic Fibrosis Foundation,
+1-301-841-2602