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MEDICAL MYSTERY: A newborn baby boy rests on his grandmother's lap at his family home in Sukkur in Pakistan's Sigh province at the weekend. This is a rare genetic condition that is believed to afflict just one in one million babies, according to medical experts attending to the baby. They have said that the boy's extra limbs are the result of a premature conjoined, or parasitic, twin. Photo: REUTERS

Doctors in Pakistan are fighting to save the life of a baby boy born with six legs because of a rare genetic condition.

The infant was born to the wife of an X-ray technician a week ago.

Jamal Raza, the director of National Institute of the Child Health in Karachi, told reporters:  “It is not one baby actually. They are two, one of them is premature”.

A doctor at the institute who did not wish to be named said the extra limbs were the result of a genetic disease which would affect only one in a million or more babies.

“The doctors are examining the infant to plan for necessary treatment to save the baby’s life and ensure he lives a normal life,” said a statement from the provincial health department.

Imran Shaikh, the baby’s father who lives in Sukkur, around 450 kilometres north of Karachi, said he was grateful his son was being treated.

“We are a poor family. I am thankful to the government for helping us treating my baby,” he told the media.

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Sun May 19 09:29:01 SAST 2013 ::

Apr 18, 2012

TupacAmaru

Damn, only in pakistan.

And he's a cute face huh!
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Apr 18, 2012

H-BEE

WTF????
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Apr 18, 2012

JajasQueen

One in a million? That's too much, considering we are 7 billion...at least one set of legs looks healthy.

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Apr 18, 2012

Mudidi

Nature at its best, nothing wrong but strange, I hope he lives.
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Apr 18, 2012

tpaz

reconstructive surgery can do wonders- i hope it works
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Apr 18, 2012

MommaC

Has Spiderman visited Pakistan lately?

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Apr 18, 2012

PIDIBIDI

metlheng ya bofelo ba lefatshe
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Apr 18, 2012

Bdoobs

Sori child...
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Apr 18, 2012

BaleliM

This is not the first child that has been born with this kind of abnormality in Parkistan/Indian regions. Not sure why this seems to be so prominent that side but with a population of 170 million in Parkistan, chances are very high.
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Apr 18, 2012

Pabi

That was a shock life to the mother of this child, i feel sorry for this child i wish they remove correct ones, doctors must be extra careful when they remove other legs.
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