Blood reserves “melted as snow” in a European country due to the spread of the Tiger mosquito
Blood donation, photo: – / Photoalto / Profimedia
The Belgian Red Cross has launched an urgent call for blood donations, against the background of the tiger mosquito in Europe, which limits eligible people to donate, reports Eurativ.
The milder winters, the rising temperatures and the longer summers contribute to the spread of diseases transmitted by mosquitoes on the continent, becoming an increasingly serious problem of public health.
In Belgium, the Red Cross has now declared an emergency due to the growing presence of the Tiger mosquito, which can transmit diseases such as Chikungunya, Dengue fever and West Nile virus infection.
“This phenomenon obliges the red cross to take drastic measures to avoid infection of patients, such as the temporary exclusion of people returning from holidays in low risk areas,” the organization said.
The rate of refusals for donations after travel has almost doubled in the last two weeks, and the list of affected areas has expanded. Although the Red Cross tests the blood donated for the West Nile virus last summer, it does not have means to detect other viruses transmitted by mosquitoes.
Those who have stayed or transit a risk area should wait at least 28 days after returning before donating blood, plasma or platelets.
Tiger mosquito spread in 16 European countries and over 300 regions
“If they want to donate to help the patients who need them, unfortunately they will have to wait to eliminate any risk,” said Geneviève Mathy, general manager of the Red Cross Blood Service.
In contrast, those who have not traveled in high-risk regions this summer are urged to donate blood to cover the high demand in hospitals, as the blood reserves “melted as snow in the sun”, as described by the Belgian Red Cross.
This year, “record epidemics of infections with West Nile virus and diseases caused by Chikungunya virus have been reported,” the European Disease Prevention and Control Center (ECDC) announced.
The Tiger mosquito is now found in 16 European countries and in 369 regions – compared to only 114 a decade ago, according to ECDC.
