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Posted on 12/13/2002 11:22:44 AM PST by Clive
OTTAWA (CP) -- Blood products possibly carrying the West Nile virus are being withdrawn from hospitals in all provinces and territories except Quebec, Canadian Blood Services announced Friday. "We have taken this initiative in response to the growing number of probable and confirmed cases of West Nile virus," Dr. Graham Sher, chief executive officer for the agency said in a statement.
The agency said that: "As of Dec. 10, 2002, the Ministry of Health in Ontario advised Canadian Blood Services that there were a total of 148 probable and 77 confirmed cases in the province. Over the past month, these numbers have increased by 20 to 30 cases per week."
The recall went out to hospitals Thursday.
"We have made protecting the blood system from West Nile virus a priority," said Sher.
"These steps will help us prepare for the return of mosquito season in 2003, at which point we are optimistic that a validated laboratory test will be available from commercial manufacturers. When a commercial test is available, we expect to implement it as quickly as possible."
The frozen products were made from blood collected in Ontario in June, July, August, September and October.
"The withdrawal applies to three specific blood products that can remain in inventory for an extended period of time: fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate and cryosupernatant," the agency said.
It said it is confident it can replace hospital inventories primarily with products it currently has in stock and has stepped up production of some specialty products.
The agency has formed a West Nile task force to examine strategies that assure the maximum possible safety of the blood system.
"In the event that no suitable test is available by next summer, the West Nile task force is developing . . . contingency plans, such as increasing the collection of blood in areas of the country that have been less affected by West Nile virus," the agency said.
"Canadian Blood Services is also conducting research to better understand West Nile virus and the epidemiology of West Nile virus infection . . . to determine the most effective measures that should be taken to safeguard the blood system."
Said Sher: "It is important to underscore that there is no risk of contracting West Nile virus infection from donating blood, and we urge people to continue to donate to help ensure everyone receives the blood they need."
The agency said it is "evaluating the impact on the security of the blood supply if the withdrawal of frozen blood products was to be extended to other provinces that have reported confirmed West Nile virus-positive dead birds.
"Usually, there is widespread infection in birds before infection spills over to humans. Positive dead birds have been confirmed in Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. No human cases have been reported there, but the presence of positive dead birds raises the possibility that undiagnosed human cases of West Nile virus infection might exist in those provinces."
The agency said it will work with Health Canada, Hema-Quebec and public health officials to investigate all reported probable and confirmed cases of the virus to determine if they involve recent blood donors or recipients.
"To date, none have been blood donors. However, one had received recent transfusions. The infection in that person has been confirmed as West Nile virus and there is an ongoing investigation to determine if the virus was transmitted through transfusion.
"There have been several cases of West Nile virus in the United States that have been confirmed as being caused by blood transfusions."
Canadian Blood Services is a national, not-for-profit charitable organization that manages the blood supply in all provinces and territories outside of Quebec. It operates 40 permanent collection sites and more than 10,000 donor clinics annually.
I was refused for this reason prior to my surgery for heart by-pass and aortic aneurism repair and so I had to accept blood from the blood bank.
If surgery is pending, you should make your donations as early as possible within the specified time frame.
Tell your surgeon immediately if you are contemplating autologous donation.
Clive; Bloodhounds; BigM; Brian Mosley; acorn; adanaC; T'wit; Wallaby; Budge; CholeraJoe; JudyB1938; Great Dane; Lise; Lady Cadaver; Thinden; Boyd; lonnie; madashell; prince charles; jolly; sal; lady cadaver
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