West Nile Virus - IBTS defers donors returning from USA and Canada
The Irish Blood Transfusion Service today (Monday) urged people travelling to the United States or Canada to donate blood before travelling if they are donors or thinking about becoming donors.
The IBTS has put in place a 28 day deferral policy for donors returning from the USA and Canada, as cases of West Nile Virus in animals and humans have been reported across the US and Canada.
"West Nile Virus is usually spread by mosquito bites. Most people who get infected with the virus suffer no ill effects; some however develop a flu like illness; of these about 1% go on to develop a severe form of the infection which can be fatal.
"People incubating the disease can transmit it to others by blood transfusion. This happened on several occasions in the USA last year. To prevent someone infected by a mosquito bite in the USA inadvertently transmitting the disease by blood donation shortly after they return home, we are asking people who have been to the USA not to donate for 28 days after they return.
"People who usually donate around this time, or are thinking about becoming blood donors, should seriously consider giving a blood donation before any scheduled visit to the USA this summer and autumn.
"The 28 day deferral will be lifted at the end of the USA's mosquito season in November, but will probably be restored next summer. Updated details on affected areas in the USA can be found on the Centre for Disease Control website, www.cdc.gov, " said Dr Willie Murphy, IBTS National Medical Director.