Parents' fury as boy, 11, is told to leave school because of his genetic make-up

Colman Chadam carries genetic mutation for cystic fibrosis, but does not have the disease or display any symptoms

Parents told school about their son's medical history

School consulted with doctors and took 'zero risk' option of removing Colman from classes

While cystic fibrosis is not contagious, sufferers can pose a health risk to each other



Banned: Colman Chadam, 11, has been removed from Jordan Middle School in Palo Alto

A California schoolboy has been forced to stay at home after his school banned him from attending classes because he carries the gene for cystic fibrosis.



Colman Chadam, 11, carries the genetic mutation for cystic fibrosis but doesn't actually have the disease and shows no outward symptoms.

The disease is incurable and life threatening and causes the body to create a thick mucous that clogs the lungs and can cause deadly infections.

But although it's not contagious, people with the disease or the gene can pose a risk to each other through bacterial cross-contamination if they are in close contact.



The disease effects about 30,000 Americans but more than 10 million Americans carry the defective cystic fibrosis gene without knowing it.



Colman's parents say their son poses no risk to other pupils and are fighting the decision, made by Jordan Middle School, in Palo Alto.

Teachers said Colman must be removed as an undisclosed number of other students at the school already have the disease.



The school argues that, if Colman were allowed to continue attending classes, there is a risk of cross-contamination.



Colman's parents, who said the school has overreacted, are waiting for a court ruling on the matter next Thursday.

Colman Chadam, 11, pictured with his mother, carries the gene for cystic fibrosis but doesn't have the disease

The school says if Colman were allowed to continue attending classes, there is a risk of cross-contamination They say that their son does not have the disease and shows no symptoms - an assertion backed by the family's doctor. RELATED ARTICLES Previous

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Next Hope for the little boy whose parents raised £400,000 for... Girl, 10, dies following epileptic fit in her sleep after... Share this article Share They also claim they did the right thing in disclosing Colman's genetic predisposition to cystic fibrosis on a school medical form at the beginning of the year.

But they did not expected the school to take such a hard line and bar Colman from the school. Colman's mother Jennifer Chadam told the San Francisco Chronicle : 'They made this decision without seeing one medical record on my son.'

Home schooling: Until a court rules on his future, Colman is attempting to continue his studies uninterrupted at home

Jordan Middle School: The school says that it has taken medical advice that removing Colman would be the 'zero risk' option for other students

She added: 'If I felt Colman was a risk to others, I would move him. I don't want anyone to get sick.'

Colman told Today: 'I was sad but at the same time I was mad because I understood that I hadn't done anything wrong. It feels like I'm being bullied in a way that is not right.'

At the heart of the problem lies conflicting opinion on the risk of cross-infection among cystic fibrosis sufferers, or those who are at genetic risk for the disease.

The school says it has consulted with medical experts and has taken the 'zero risk' option in removing Colman from the school.

The plight of the Chadams supports a UK study last year that claimed students with allergies often suffered discrimination at school.

The study, from the University of Leicester, said affected children often felt isolated, stigmatised or left out of school activities.