I was luckily diagnosed with haemachromotosis 9yrs ago (it is rare to be living and be diagnosed!) I was told that it is a genetic blood disease specifically related to a racial group - the Celts - ie Scottish, Welsh, Irish ancestry. This is why it is prevalent in USA/Canada, Australia/NZ in particular as well as in the UK. My ancestry is Welsh on the male side.
Does race influence genetically-related diseases?
Posted by Alice L.
http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2007/march14/med-glaucoma-031407.html