Miami Blood Donations Halted Over Zika Fears
Source: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Miami (AFP) - US regulators Thursday called for a halt to blood donations in the Miami area as investigators probe four potential non-travel associated cases of the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which can cause birth defects.
If confirmed, the cases would mark the first time that mosquitoes carrying the virus are known to be present in the mainland United States.
The US territory of Puerto Rico has already seen a surge in local transmission of Zika, which can spread by mosquitoes or sexual contact.
"In consideration of the possibility of an emerging local outbreak of Zika virus, and as a prudent measure to help assure the safety of blood and blood products, FDA is requesting that all blood establishments in Miami-Dade County and Broward County cease collecting blood immediately," said a statement from the US Food and Drug Administration.
Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/miami-blood-donations-halted-over-zika-fears-174646503.html
geomon666
(7,512 posts)here in Miami. This zika stuff is pretty scary, especially since I'll be traveling to the Pacific Northwest next week.
HockeyMom
(14,337 posts)So where are they going to get blood from? I live in Naples and know many people here go to Miami for hospital procedures. My husband went there to have stents put in.
Major problem. They cannot test blood donations for Zika?
geomon666
(7,512 posts)Before this, they were asking people if they traveled to places that had Zika outbreaks.
rurallib
(62,492 posts)From what I read a while back, the system was already stretched quite thin. Plus of course it can't be stored very long.
HockeyMom
(14,337 posts)to stop blood donations also. Um, how far can an infected mosquito fly???? They aren't planes for goodness sake.