How Infectious Diseases Can Disrupt the Blood Supply

The worsening Dengue epidemic in North Queensland, Australia is causing a disruption in the blood supply there.

Dengue fever cases, which began appearing in December, had climbed to above 200 as of January 22, as reported in the Queensland Currier Mail.

In Cairns, where 13 suburbs have been affected, 190 dengue fever cases have been confirmed, while in Townsville, 20 people have been infected.

Coincidentally, the Brisbane Times reports that the Red Cross has issued an urgent call for blood donors because the dengue fever outbreak has robbed them of 14 percent of their regular supply.

The Australian Red Cross Blood Service (ARCBS) Queensland medical services manager Dr. Matt Lee-Archer said the service asked donors who had recently recovered from dengue or who had traveled to dengue-affected areas to wait another 4 weeks before donating whole blood.

At the moment, this includes Cairns and Townsville, which between them contribute one in 7 Queensland donors.

ARCBS expects the safety measure will cause a shortage of donors for at least the next 4 months.

Dr. Lee-Archer said dengue fever could be transmitted via blood transfusions, and the current restrictions were introduced because no large scale screening test for the virus is licensed for Australia.

"That's why its important that more people know about the (blood supply) shortage and donate," he said.