People returning from a trip to northern Italy, northeastern Greece, Serbia or Romania must wait 28 days before donating blood, the Belgian Red Cross recommends on Friday . The blood-borne West Nile virus is currently rife there.
This virus is transmitted to humans via infected mosquitoes after biting birds. If 80% of infected people are asymptomatic, the West Nile virus is no less dangerous for fragile people requiring a blood transfusion, explains Thomas Paulus, communication manager of the blood dong service of the Belgian Red Cross.
Flu symptoms
The main symptoms of infected people are similar to a flu-like state with fever, body aches, headaches and can last from a few days to a few weeks, according to the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp. In 1% of cases, the infection can be severe and cause encephalitis and neurological effects.
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) compiles a list of countries affected by the virus, updated weekly. Currently, several areas in northern Italy and northeastern Greece are affected. Northern Serbia, eastern Romania and western Slovakia are also problematic, according to the ECDC. A total of 143 cases of West Nile virus have been identified in Europe since the start of the transmission season, the majority (94) in Italy.
September will be critical for blood stocks
“Driving through problem areas is enough for a contraindication for blood donation for 28 days.” A difficult situation for the Red Cross, whose blood stocks of groups O- and B- are already “critiques“. “We are in a delicate period, especially between mid-August and early September. For now, we can say that September will be critical and thata shortage is gently pointing the tip of its nose“, specifies the communication manager of the blood donation service of the Belgian Red Cross.
The institution wants to be reassuring for the moment and specifies that a strategic stock is always reserved for the most urgent situations. However, plasma donors are not concerned by this recommendation of caution.
Belgian
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