Republic refuses NI and UK blood donors
Potential blood donors from Northern Ireland are being refused by the Republic's transfusion service due to the continuing unknown but serious threat from vCJD, the human form of mad cow disease. By Shelley Marsden - 30/11/09
Donors who have lived for a more than 12 months in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK are still not allowed to give blood, said Dr William Murphy, Medical Director of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS).
In its annual report, he said they also have to ban people who had transfusions in the past and “these constitute a large percentage of potential donors”.
As yet there is no test available for vCJD, which four people died of in the Republic. None of the deaths were linked to blood or blood products.
The IBTS applied to the Department of Health for a new blood filter, designed to remove the vCJD infectious agent, but officials say more evidence of its effectiveness is needed.
He also warned that other donors are also being deferred for weeks or even months as they are screened for other emerging threats, including the West Nile virus and chikungunya, both viral infections spread by mosquitoes.
Dr Murphy said that no cases of these viruses have been transmitted through blood in the Republic but ongoing observation of the situation is necessary, adding that in northern Italy last year there were cases of chikungunya, and the West Nile virus has infected people in the Mediterranean and North America.
Related Articles
Headlines
-
Opinions
-
Politics
Adams 'optimistic' about ETA ceasefire
-
Business
-
Sport
Troubled Rooney will play in Switzerland
-
GAA
Win All-Ireland Football Final tickets
-
Travel
Visit Dublin App now available
-
Lifestyle
Lindley and Smyth to show at Barbara Stanley Gallery
-
Music
Show must go on, O'Donnell tells fans
-
Subscribe
-
Supplements
