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Curtis Means, a US boy born at 21 weeks and a day, and weighing only 420 grammes (under one pound) has been certified as the world's most premature baby to survive. He was delivered in Birmingham, Alabama, last year. Guinness World Records have confirmed that Curtis, who is now thriving at 16 months old, set the new record. Curtis's twin died the following day, but Curtis survived on a ventilator for three months and was discharged from hospital after more than 270 days. Curtis is now 16 months old. He still needs oxygen and a feeding tube but doctors say he's in good health.

Dr David Evans, a consultant neonatologist at Southmead Hospital in Bristol in the UK, describes the advances that have enabled more premature babies to survive. He says that better obstetric care, advances in neo-natal care and the development of regional centres where specialists can work together have all led to premature babies' chances of survival improving over the last 30 years. He described Curtis's survival as "really exceptional".

Photo: Curtis Means at sixteenth months. He still needs to be fed by a tube Credit: University of Alabama, at Birmingham, US