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Bubble Boy Declared Cured of Life-threatening Disease

by Rajshri on Jun 4 2008 3:03 PM

Rhys Harris who was isolated in a "bubble" for two months after he developed a mycobacterial infection has become the first person to be cured of the deadly disease following a bone marrow transplant.

Harris underwent chemotherapy for eight weeks prior to receiving a new bone marrow. His disease is a rare one called Nuclear Factor Kappa B Essential Modulator, which destroyed his white blood cells thus requiring a transplant.

He had the transplant in October last year and learned yesterday that it had been successful. "Rhys just went through hell and back and back to hell again - it was a really tough time for all of us. He is really tough and resilient. He is a normal seven year old boy apart from this who loves rugby and adores his brother," his father Kevin Harris told the Telegraph.

Dr Mario Abinun, a consultant paediatric immunologist at Newcastle General Hospital, revealed that just 25 such procedures were performed annually in the UK.

Source-Medindia
RAS/L


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