Rhesus negative blood type travelers should be aware that there is a shortage of this blood type in Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries.
About 15% of the European population has Rh negative blood, but like much of Southeast Asia, only 0.3% of the Thai population has this blood type.
This situation has led to a shortage of Rh-negative blood in blood banks across Southeast Asia.
This means that for expats, tourists and the tiny minority of affected Thais, a minor motorcycle accident or simple surgery can quickly turn into a life-threatening crisis.
This risk, which exists in all the countries of the region, including Laos, Vietnam and Indonesia, is not only theoretical.
Thailand’s busy roads are reputed to be some of the most dangerous in the world.
See: Why are Thailand’s roads among the deadliest in the world?
Visitors to the area who have had an accident or had to undergo surgery have found themselves in life-threatening situations due to the lack of Rh negative blood.
In some cases, it took up to two weeks to find enough donors to provide the amount of blood needed.
A French national, “Lucca”, told his terrible experience to the newspaper The Telegraph.
Last summer, Lucca was rushed to hospital with internal bleeding while recovering from surgery to remove a stomach ulcer.
Doctors in Bangkok did not have enough O-negative blood to replace the amount of blood Lucca was losing.
Luckily, within two weeks, Lucca’s friends and family managed to collect enough blood donations for him through an online campaign and a call for potential donors.
Nancy Rower, one of Lucca’s donors, explained that at the time, French, Irish and English nationals were banned from donating because it was feared their blood might still contain traces of mad cow disease following several epidemics that occurred between 1980 and 2001.
This posed a problem, as most of Lucca’s relations were French.
Thailand changed this policy last year.
Last month, medical professionals and academics encouraged the international community to donate blood at a panel discussion held at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT).
Some lobby groups and Facebook communities are working to help patients find donors.
The Facebook group “Thailand RH- Blood Donation” helps to find potential donors for patients in need.
Tourists planning to visit Southeast Asia are recommended to know their blood type in advance.
If you are Rh negative and have an accident or a medical condition and need blood, contact the expatriate population immediately, Ms Rower added.
Time is critical, and this will give you the best chance of getting the blood you need.
The best way to reach people is through the network of Facebook groups connecting patients and potential donors.
Source : The Tiger