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S.D. Health Officer: No Cause for Alarm Over Anemia Cases

The top health officer in San Diego County says a "cluster" of cases of a rare form of anemia is probably not evidence of a common cause, nor an indication that the cases are connected.

The top health officer in San Diego County says a "cluster" of cases of a rare form of anemia is probably not evidence of a common cause, nor an indication that the cases are connected.

Five children and two adults have been diagnosed with potentially deadly "aplastic anemia" since October. Based on statistical likelihood, there would be nine cases in the county. Interim county Public Health Officer Dr. Wilma Wooten says there's no cause for alam.

Wooten says the cases probably occurred at random.

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The County Health Department began a joint review with Federal and State investigators last month, after families of several children went to the media and expressed concern that the potentially deadly anemia might have been caused by toxins or environmental factors.