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Photo by Marja Helander
Health officials in Campinas, Brazil, have reported 2 cases of the Zika virus that were likely transmitted through blood transfusions.
The officials said both transfusions occurred last year, but transmission of the virus wasn’t confirmed until recently.
A liver transplant recipient appeared to have contracted Zika through a transfusion in March 2015, and a gunshot victim appeared to have contracted the virus after multiple transfusions in April 2015.
Doctors originally thought the gunshot victim had dengue fever, so his blood was not tested for the Zika virus until January 28. The man later died of his wounds.
The liver transplant recipient did not show any symptoms of Zika infection, but testing confirmed that both he and his blood donor had the virus.
Protecting the world’s blood supply
Even before these cases of Zika transmission were reported, countries around the world were implementing blood donor deferral policies in attempts to protect the blood supply.
The US Food and Drug Administration is still reviewing its blood donation policy with regard to the virus, but the American Red Cross and AABB have recommended donor self-deferral.
Both organizations said people should refrain from donating blood for 28 days if they have visited Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, or South America in the past 4 weeks.
NHS Blood and Transplant has also implemented a 28-day deferral period for potential blood donors in England and North Wales who have travelled to countries where the Zika virus is endemic.
A spokesperson for NHS Blood and Transplant said travel to most Zika-endemic countries already brings a blood donation deferral period of at least 28 days. So the agency doesn’t expect the new deferral policy to have a significant impact on the number of people who can donate following travel abroad.
Canadian Blood Services has said that anyone who has travelled outside of Canada, the continental US, and Europe will be temporarily ineligible to give blood for 3 weeks (21 days). This policy has been implemented across the country.
The 21-day waiting period also applies to cord blood and stem cell donors who have travelled to affected areas. Héma-Québec (Quebec’s blood operator) is implementing the same change.
Canadian Blood Services said the new deferral policy will reduce the number of people available to donate in the coming months and therefore urged Canadians to donate before they travel. The agency also urged new and current donors who have not recently travelled outside of Canada, the continental US, and Europe to book an appointment to donate.
Hong Kong’s Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service has begun screening potential blood donors. Anyone who has resided in or visited any countries affected by the Zika virus is screened and deferred for blood donation for at least 28 days from the date he or she departed from the affected country.
South Korea’s health authorities have implemented a 30-day deferral period for potential donors who have visited Zika-endemic areas.
The Australian Red Cross Blood Service said it already defers potential blood donors who have travelled to countries with mosquito-borne viruses that are a transfusion-transmission risk, such as dengue and malaria. So all countries affected by Zika outbreaks are already covered by temporary travel deferrals in Australia.
However, the organization said it will continue to monitor the countries impacted by the virus and will make any adjustments to deferrals as required. 
Photo by Marja Helander
Health officials in Campinas, Brazil, have reported 2 cases of the Zika virus that were likely transmitted through blood transfusions.
The officials said both transfusions occurred last year, but transmission of the virus wasn’t confirmed until recently.
A liver transplant recipient appeared to have contracted Zika through a transfusion in March 2015, and a gunshot victim appeared to have contracted the virus after multiple transfusions in April 2015.
Doctors originally thought the gunshot victim had dengue fever, so his blood was not tested for the Zika virus until January 28. The man later died of his wounds.
The liver transplant recipient did not show any symptoms of Zika infection, but testing confirmed that both he and his blood donor had the virus.
Protecting the world’s blood supply
Even before these cases of Zika transmission were reported, countries around the world were implementing blood donor deferral policies in attempts to protect the blood supply.
The US Food and Drug Administration is still reviewing its blood donation policy with regard to the virus, but the American Red Cross and AABB have recommended donor self-deferral.
Both organizations said people should refrain from donating blood for 28 days if they have visited Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, or South America in the past 4 weeks.
NHS Blood and Transplant has also implemented a 28-day deferral period for potential blood donors in England and North Wales who have travelled to countries where the Zika virus is endemic.
A spokesperson for NHS Blood and Transplant said travel to most Zika-endemic countries already brings a blood donation deferral period of at least 28 days. So the agency doesn’t expect the new deferral policy to have a significant impact on the number of people who can donate following travel abroad.
Canadian Blood Services has said that anyone who has travelled outside of Canada, the continental US, and Europe will be temporarily ineligible to give blood for 3 weeks (21 days). This policy has been implemented across the country.
The 21-day waiting period also applies to cord blood and stem cell donors who have travelled to affected areas. Héma-Québec (Quebec’s blood operator) is implementing the same change.
Canadian Blood Services said the new deferral policy will reduce the number of people available to donate in the coming months and therefore urged Canadians to donate before they travel. The agency also urged new and current donors who have not recently travelled outside of Canada, the continental US, and Europe to book an appointment to donate.
Hong Kong’s Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service has begun screening potential blood donors. Anyone who has resided in or visited any countries affected by the Zika virus is screened and deferred for blood donation for at least 28 days from the date he or she departed from the affected country.
South Korea’s health authorities have implemented a 30-day deferral period for potential donors who have visited Zika-endemic areas.
The Australian Red Cross Blood Service said it already defers potential blood donors who have travelled to countries with mosquito-borne viruses that are a transfusion-transmission risk, such as dengue and malaria. So all countries affected by Zika outbreaks are already covered by temporary travel deferrals in Australia.
However, the organization said it will continue to monitor the countries impacted by the virus and will make any adjustments to deferrals as required.
Photo by Marja Helander
Health officials in Campinas, Brazil, have reported 2 cases of the Zika virus that were likely transmitted through blood transfusions.
The officials said both transfusions occurred last year, but transmission of the virus wasn’t confirmed until recently.
A liver transplant recipient appeared to have contracted Zika through a transfusion in March 2015, and a gunshot victim appeared to have contracted the virus after multiple transfusions in April 2015.
Doctors originally thought the gunshot victim had dengue fever, so his blood was not tested for the Zika virus until January 28. The man later died of his wounds.
The liver transplant recipient did not show any symptoms of Zika infection, but testing confirmed that both he and his blood donor had the virus.
Protecting the world’s blood supply
Even before these cases of Zika transmission were reported, countries around the world were implementing blood donor deferral policies in attempts to protect the blood supply.
The US Food and Drug Administration is still reviewing its blood donation policy with regard to the virus, but the American Red Cross and AABB have recommended donor self-deferral.
Both organizations said people should refrain from donating blood for 28 days if they have visited Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, or South America in the past 4 weeks.
NHS Blood and Transplant has also implemented a 28-day deferral period for potential blood donors in England and North Wales who have travelled to countries where the Zika virus is endemic.
A spokesperson for NHS Blood and Transplant said travel to most Zika-endemic countries already brings a blood donation deferral period of at least 28 days. So the agency doesn’t expect the new deferral policy to have a significant impact on the number of people who can donate following travel abroad.
Canadian Blood Services has said that anyone who has travelled outside of Canada, the continental US, and Europe will be temporarily ineligible to give blood for 3 weeks (21 days). This policy has been implemented across the country.
The 21-day waiting period also applies to cord blood and stem cell donors who have travelled to affected areas. Héma-Québec (Quebec’s blood operator) is implementing the same change.
Canadian Blood Services said the new deferral policy will reduce the number of people available to donate in the coming months and therefore urged Canadians to donate before they travel. The agency also urged new and current donors who have not recently travelled outside of Canada, the continental US, and Europe to book an appointment to donate.
Hong Kong’s Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service has begun screening potential blood donors. Anyone who has resided in or visited any countries affected by the Zika virus is screened and deferred for blood donation for at least 28 days from the date he or she departed from the affected country.
South Korea’s health authorities have implemented a 30-day deferral period for potential donors who have visited Zika-endemic areas.
The Australian Red Cross Blood Service said it already defers potential blood donors who have travelled to countries with mosquito-borne viruses that are a transfusion-transmission risk, such as dengue and malaria. So all countries affected by Zika outbreaks are already covered by temporary travel deferrals in Australia.
However, the organization said it will continue to monitor the countries impacted by the virus and will make any adjustments to deferrals as required.