New Flu Victim: Blood Supply

[question everything]

NOVEMBER 10, 2009

New Flu Victim: Blood Supply
Illness Keeps Donors Away, as Worries Surface About Whether Transfusions Spread Infection

By LAURA LANDRO


The swine-flu pandemic is creating unexpected problems for the nation's blood supply—shrinking the number of blood donors and raising questions about whether the flu can be spread through a transfusion. A number of blood centers are reporting an unusual drop in collections because too many potential donors are sick with the H1N1 virus, or swine flu. Some blood drives in high schools and corporate offices have had to be scaled back or canceled because of high levels of absenteeism. Another problem: Some centers say a growing number of donors are calling a day or two after giving blood to say they've come down with flu-like symptoms, forcing the centers to dispose of the blood as part of government regulations. Researchers in a government-funded study are testing samples of these donors' blood for viremia, the medical term for virus in the blood.

Unlike infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C and West Nile virus, colds and flu aren't believed to be transmitted by blood. But some studies indicate that more virulent strains can be present in the blood before flu symptoms show up. "When you get into strains that are pandemic, the rules don't necessarily apply," says Matthew Kuehnert, director of the Office of Blood, Organ and other Tissue Safety at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

So far, medical officials say there is enough blood to comfortably supply the 15 million units used annually in trauma units, operating rooms and elsewhere. But blood centers have begun working with the federal government and hospitals to put emergency planning measures in place, such as allocating blood only to the sickest patients, should the pandemic worsen or return in a more virulent form next spring.

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As of last week, 48 states reported widespread influenza activity, with almost all the illnesses identified so far as swine flu, according to the CDC. While visits to doctors for flu-like illnesses decreased slightly last week after four consecutive weeks of sharp increases, they are at much higher levels than what is expected at this time of year. Parts of the country are still seeing sharp increases in activity and it is possible that illness rates could rise again.

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Partly offsetting the reduced collections is lower blood demand as more people put off costly elective surgeries due to the tough economy, says Richard Benjamin, medical director of the Red Cross, which supplies about 43% of the nation's blood. But a looming worry is the upcoming holiday season, when it is traditionally harder to recruit donors. "If swine flu continues on its path, disrupting blood collections during that period, we are really going to need more donors," Dr. Benjamin says. The Red Cross and its local chapters are turning to social-networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to get the word out about the need for blood.

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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703808904574525570410593800.html (subscription)

[Skittles]

1. people, if you are eligible please get out there and donate

don't wait until something like the Fort Hood shootings to get you off your ass - BLOOD IS NEEDED EVERY DAY

[question everything]

2. I am going to contact the local blood bank tomorrow

I used to be a donor and then just let it lapse..

[Skittles]

3. there ya go

people like me, who have donated for decades (34 gallons), get hit up over and over because other people NEVER donate

[question everything]

4. In previous address, I used to be called often

then we moved and... did not bother to start again.

:hi: