A question I have is:
If a blood donor gives blood and unknowingly has the virus, is that blood contaminated?
Wow. As if it isn’t bad enough already.
In a word, yes.
Diagnostic testing for meningitis is thru cerebrospinal fluid, not blood, but it’s carried in the blood. I’m not familiar with the treatment & all the testing of donated blood. A handful of infectious diseases are screened for in every donation (meningitis not included). I know some blood is cultured, but I don’t know if it’s routine for every donation.
I think the Red Cross updates screening for infectious diseases as outbreaks warrant it.