A teenager has been warned to keep away from his pregnant sister – because he could damage her baby.
In fact, Bryant Hackett, 14, is not allowed to have contact with ANY expectant mums because he carries a harmful virus.
The boy is even being forced to attend an all-boys' school to prevent him infecting potentially pregnant girls. Bryant has been diagnosed with cytomegalovirus (CMV).
Although the virus is not causing Bryant to suffer any symptoms, it could be harmful if contracted by a pregnant woman – including his sister Terri Wooton, 20, who is expecting a baby in a few weeks' time. She is currently living with her grandmother.
Mum Leanne told her local paper: "I think Bryant wants the virus gone and his sister to give birth so she can come home.
"I think Terri wants the baby to come so she can move home as well. I just can't wait to get back to normal."
Bryant, from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, said: "I miss my sister a lot and can't wait until she gives birth. She is due in a few weeks."
Bryant was diagnosed with the virus in July of last year after a rare strain of hepatitis he believes he picked up while on holiday in Majorca left him with a catalogue of health problems.
It caused him to develop liver failure and end up a with a blood platelet count of just four – the normal level is between 150 and 400.
He suffered bone marrow failure and had to have two bone marrow transplants which first required him to have chemotherapy to clear his existing bone marrow. He was left with a weakened immune system, which caused him to contract pneumonia which his mother says almost killed him.
Leanne, 36, said: "At one point I honestly thought he was going to die. He had to have chemotherapy to get rid of all of his own blood platelets, otherwise they would have clashed with the transplants.
"Bryant lost all his hair, he was very sick. He is a teenager, and teenage boys usually like to be around girls.
"It is a shame he can't spend time with girls, but I am just so glad he is out of hospital."
Bryant has been unable to attend school for the past 15 months after he was diagnosed with liver failure in October 2012.
After undergoing the bone marrow transplants last year, he spent five months in isolation in the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle, receiving chemotherapy.
After his recovery, he had been due to start at a co-ed school. But, after doctors told him he was suffering from CMV, which is harmful to unborn babies, he has been forced to attend a boys-only school instead.
CMV is a common virus that is part of the herpes family of viruses. It causes few symptoms in most people and so most do not know they are infected. Once someone has been infected, the virus stays in their body for the rest of their life without usually causing problems.
However, it can sometimes cause symptoms if a person has a weakened immune system, for example, if they are having chemotherapy.
CMV can also cause serious problems if a woman becomes infecting during pregnancy as this can lead to hearing loss and learning difficulties in the baby.
Bryant will start at St Aidan's Catholic Academy this week, but says he is looking forward to getting out of the house, despite the lack of girls.
He added: "It was so boring when I was in hospital. I couldn't have many visitors, in case I caught an infection.
"It is not great being dangerous to girls, but at least I will be able to spend time with people my own age again."
A spokeswoman for St Aidan's Catholic Academy said: "We are going to admit Bryant to the school this week.
"We are happy to support Bryant and his family as he integrates back into full-time education."