Zika Virus Affecting Blood Donation

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Blood donations will be restricted because of Zika virus.

"We're always in a prevention mode," says Dr. Joseph Kiss of the Central Blood Bank.

This week, the Association of Blood Banks made a new recommendation for travelers who have been to areas where there's Zika virus, such as South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Carribean. Once they return home, they should not donate blood for 28 days, which is the length of time other similar viruses take to clear.

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"We're going to put posters, and we will put fact sheets to remind people they shouldn't donate," says Dr. Kiss. "There is currently no licensed test for the virus, so preventing transmission in the blood supply becomes a matter of dealing with the information of where people have traveled."

These types of donor restrictions based on travel affect almost three percent of potential donors nationwide.

"We think these precautions will stay ahead of the curve to prevent possible transmission in the blood supply," he adds. "We're planning to put these steps into place over the next one to two weeks."

Extra careful, the blood bank gives donors instructions that if they get sick in the next two weeks, they should call back, their symptoms will be reviewed, and if necessary, those products will be pulled.