Zika outbreak alters Red Cross blood donor protocol
Lisa Schnirring
CIDRAP News
Feb 03, 2016
The American Red Cross today said it is closely monitoring the spread of Zika virus and as a precaution is implementing a self-deferral policy for blood donors who have traveled to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central or South America within 28 days of donating.
In other Zika virus developments, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) added two more destinations—Jamaica and Tonga—to its Zika-related travel advisory for pregnant women, Brazil’s microcephaly totals have increased, and an India company detailed two new vaccine candidates.
Potential impact on blood supply
In its statement today, the American Red Cross also asks those who develop symptoms of Zika virus infection within 14 days of donation to immediately notify the Red Cross so it can quarantine the blood.
The group said it and other blood collection agencies are working with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the CDC, and state health departments to track the virus and update donor eligibility criteria as needed.
It said it has safety measures in place to protect the blood supply from Zika and other mosquito-borne pathogens and that the risk of contracting a Zika infection from blood transfusion is very low in the continental United States because of the absence of Zika virus in local mosquito populations.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) had said in a Dec 10 risk assessment that although there have been no documented Zika infections from blood transfusion, 3% of asymptomatic blood donors were positive for the virus on polymerase chain reaction testing during French Polynesia’s Zika outbreak in 2013 and 2014. The ECDC recommends that blood safety authorities consider deferral of donors who have histories of travel to areas of active Zika virus transmission.
Jamaica, Tonga added to travel advisory
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