Incidence of homozygous beta-thalassaemia in New South Wales, 1961-1976.

A case-finding survey yielded 58 persons with transfusion-dependent homozygous beta-thalassaemia who lived either in New South Wales or in the Australian Capital Territory. Of those born between 1961 and 1976 in New South Wales, nearly 70% were of Greek or Greek-Cypriot origin and 18% of Italian origin. The New South Wales incidence rates for homozygous beta-thalassaemia were estimated as follows: one in 934 births, Greek origin; one in 264 births, Cypriot origin and one in 3441 births, Italian origin.